Representation by Liz Pierce
- Date submitted
- 30 September 2020
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
As a resident of Westleton, who loves our very special landscape and environment, and anowner of two holiday cottages in Eastbridge I have serious concerns about the building of Sizewell C, both general and specific. 1) I question whether the project should go ahead, in view of rapidly changing developments in alternative energy, Chinese involvement in a sensitive industry, and EDF's financial position (eg electricity users should pay for the likely higher unit cost). With new technologies emerging and changing attitudes towards this type of nuclear power , will Sizewell be the last nuclear dinosaur? 2) The siting of Sizewell C on an extremely unstable coastline, where the impact of future changing sea levels are not yet fully understood just seems foolhardy to me. 3) I believe that building Sizewell C in this fragile and uniquely beautiful area will cause permanent harm to the landscape, environment, ecosystems on land and sea, and damage Minsmere RSPB reserve and the whole AONB perhaps permanently. I worry that the effects of noise pollution, air pollution eg from traffic and dust from spoil heaps, the borrow pits and landfill, long term light pollution, possible pollution of water courses etc will cause irreversible damage to the environment, landscape,habitats and ecosystems, at a time when we humans are destroying our natural world at an ever increasing rate. 4) The impact on the area and on local people will I think be excessively high. Local businesses (including mine) will be adversely affected; tourism and farming are both hugely important in this area, and it is no coincidence that over 150 local businesses have signalled their objections to Sizewell C. Disruption to roads, footpaths, beaches etc will be widespread and long term, and affect local people's every day lives(not to mention house prices). Having read of EDF's plans to import many workers from Hinkley Point rather than employ local people, other than in unskilled low paid work, makes me wonder whether the benefits to local people and businesses will be largely outweighed by negatives. With tourism one of the key employers of people in this area, and a major source of income (over £40 million pa), there is a real risk that tourists will go elsewhere, and stay away permanently. 5) Many of the very reasonable concerns raised during the consultation stages have not been properly addressed by EDF. At every stage of the consultation process, concerns have been raised about A) Housing. The housing of 2400 workers in a purpose built accommodation block in Eastbridge (population 400) has been consistently opposed. This small peaceful village will be utterly swamped by the new housing, and EDF have been unable to satisfactorily explain why workers can't be housed in legacy, sustainable housing in a number of different areas to 'share the load', and in the long term help address the area's housing shortage. (Reports from Hinkley Point suggest that the accommodation block is unpopular with workers anyway, who prefer to stay in local houses.) B) The proposed route of the relief road is also far from satisfactory. Using the B1122, then dissecting the village of Theberton, and in the process destroying countryside, farmland, footpaths etc, seems an inferior solution compared to the alternative 'legacy' route favoured by many people, but dismissed by EDF. In conclusion I would like to endorse the Relevant Representations of Stop Sizewell C, RSPB, Suffolk Wildlife Trust.