Representation by Joanna Iles
- Date submitted
- 30 September 2020
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I would like to raise some concerns about Sizewell C. I believe that the wrong site has been chosen – this is the wrong project, in the wrong place. This project would place the local area at risk of a rise in sea level and flooding (this is already a concern on the Suffolk coast). There is also a risk that the project would have an impact upon coastal processes. This area includes sites that are important ecologically and culturally – the proposed project would likely have a negative impact on these areas; along with local amenities and landscape. Additionally, I oppose the suggested location for a worker campus. 6,000 workers are anticipated to move to work in the area (including 2,400 in a campus). Surely this would not have a positive impact on local communities. It would put added pressure on emergency, health and social services. The people living throughout the surrounding countryside and locally to Sizewell would be impacted by additional traffic and disruption. The works would cause light pollution, further traffic and significant noise increases. Tourism (already hard hit in 2020 by Covid-19 related disruption and closures) could lose up to £40m a year. Jobs are already at risk and it is suggested that this project could lead to the loss of 400 jobs in local tourist industries. EDF surveys have stated that 29% of visitors would be deterred from visiting the area. All of this will have a negative long-term impact on local businesses. There would be a massive impact on local transportation infrastructure. The road based transport plan is simply not sustainable. This would have an adverse impact on the visitor economy and local communities. The delay in new road infrastructure means that villages would endure 2-3 years of increased traffic. Furthermore, new roads would sever communities, divide farmland and cause damage to the existing rural footpath system. As I previously mentioned, I am concerned about the impact that this work would have on the local environment. It would almost certainly lead to flooding. It is unclear what impact this will have on Minsmere Sluice. It would surely cause irreparable damage to Minsmere – a flagship destination of international importance and significance. This is a Special Protection Area and the potential impact on Marsh Harriers threatens the integrity of this area for the conservation of wild birds. It is also important to consider the impact that the development would have on local wildlife and specially the birds protected within the SPA. The development would create light, noise and traffic pollution – it must be assumed that this would have only negative impacts on the locale and relevant wildlife. The dust management suggested for soil heaps and stockpiles is inadequate. In addition, there is uncertainty regarding how drainage and the supply of 3 million litres of potable water would be arranged for the construction period and beyond. Again, the abstraction of water compounds poses a very real risk to protected species and the environment. It would be impossible to compensate for the damage that would occur to the landscape and local ecology. This project would not offset the CO2 used in construction for at least 6 years! There would be a negative impact on marine and coastal processes. The Beach Landing Facility would have an impact on coastal processes and there would be a major impact on marine ecology. There is no complete design available for the hard coastal defence feature. It is very likely that the HDCF would have an impact upon coastal processes and cause ecological issues. It would create local flooding. I wish to endorse the Relevant Representation submitted by TASC, RSPB and Stop Sizewell C. I wish to state that I consider the Sizewell C application to be totally unsuitable for a digital examination process.