Representation by Martin Freeman
- Date submitted
- 30 September 2020
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
The construction of a two EPR Reactor Nuclear Power Station with associated equipment and buildings on the Sizewell C site is too big for the site and will have a significant irrecoverable adverse effect on this area, environment, tourism, recreational and sensitive areas. The Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) sensitive area has many special designated areas (Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Countryside Right of Way (CROW), SPA), wildlife and recreational right of ways. The Sandlings SPA, which is an important area of habitat for several protected species has declined in the last century, represents 1% of total lowland heath left in the world will be significantly affected by this construction. The Sizewell C proposal in its current form is unrealistic and the planning submission lacks a lot of detail. For example it does not take full account of the impact of other ongoing and proposed projects (Sizewell A Power Station decommissioning work, Scottish Power Renewables two wind farms, extension of Greater Gabbard and Galloper wind farms, and National Grid Ventures two interconnector projects (Nautilus and Eurolink)) and the natural increases in 'day to day' activities, visitors, residents (new housing projects), business, etc. There is going to be detrimental effects on the environment, people's health and habitat from the increased transmission of electricity on the overhead pylons (EMF - Electromagnetic Field). I have noticed a huge difference to the weight on the transmission lines (lowering affect), noise levels from the pylon and transmission lines since the Galloper Wind farm became operational. These overhead lines cannot take the electricity generated by all further proposed developments in this area without increasing the risk to the environment, people's health, habitat and interference with other electrical devices nearby (residential properties). National Grid needs to install new connections elsewhere across the country to stop one area being overwhelmed by energy installations, becoming a security risk (too many energy installations on one National Grid line in a single area), increasing the risk of EMF and noise levels. The road (Lovers Lane / Sizewell Gap) intended to be used for the early years of Sizewell C construction is the only access road to Sizewell A & B Nuclear Power Stations, Sizewell village, Sizewell Beach and access to Leiston for HGVs (which are no longer restricted to 40 mph) / large vehicles, vans, cars, motorbikes, etc. This is a 60mph road (National speed limit) which already has high traffic movements which substantially increase during the summer months, Sizewell B Outages and projects, Sizewell A decommissioning projects, Sizewell A & B site shift changeovers, Business deliveries to Leiston and Sizewell Waste Recycling Centre. There are many accidents on this road each year. This increased massively during the construction phases of both Greater Gabbard and Galloper sub stations. There are safety issues at the Household Recycling site: 1) parked vehicles in road when site closed for container movements and when no available spaces for unloading, 2) site entrance less than 200 m and unsighted of brow of hill for vehicles travelling North towards the B1122. This road (Lovers Lane / Sizewell Gap) should not be used for ANY Sizewell C traffic at all and the new road entrance to the Sizewell site needs to be built before construction begins. We have a 7.5 ton horse lorry (which carries 3 horses) and a couple of very large over sized trailers which we have to manoeuvre in and out of our entrance by crossing both lanes of this road. Allowing the Lovers Lane / Sizewell Gap road to be used endangers the lives of my horses and us. It has been recognised the environmental, noise and air pollution the construction traffic will have on Theberton village and this village has a 30mph speed limit so why is it ok for you to use the Sizewell Gap road in the early years which is a 60mph road. Not only will there be significant adverse effects from noise, air pollution and vibration it will also be really dangerous for us to access and egress our drive way. This road should not to be used for Sizewell C traffic at all at any time. The proposed area consists of SSSI, conservation area, common land, stewardship land, agricultural land, grazing land and many different rights of ways which will be adversely affected. No right of way (Byway, Bridleway, Footpath, Permissive path) shall be closed off. This whole area and rights of way are used daily 365 days of the year by many individuals, groups, farmers, etc for, but not limited to: walking, running, cycling, horse riding, orienteering by large numbers of individuals and group, etc and it will be detrimental to the area, tourism, well being of residents and businesses if any such areas and rights of way are closed. Diversions must be in place if for any reason a right of way has to be closed for safety reasons. Horse riders are considered vulnerable road users, therefore it is essential for health and safety reasons that all tracks (no existing tracks are to be upgraded to allow construction traffic use), rights of way, permissive paths, bridleways, etc are properly managed during this construction to ensure traffic and construction work does not endanger horses and riders. The proposed diversion of bridleway 19 along lovers lane and Sizewell Gap road is too dangerous for horse riders. Cyclists and horse riders should be segregated (due the large number of cyclists that will use this bridleway to get to the Sizewell C construction), the bridleway should not stop short of the bridleway entrance on the opposite side of the road by No 1 Halfway Cottages Sizewell (no horse and rider should have to ride on this road), the bridleway should be far enough away from construction work / traffic so as not to scare the horses (potential for a horse to bolt onto Lovers Lane / Sizewell Gap road and get killed / cause a major deadly accident), crossings of roads on this diverted bridleway should be kept to a minimum as to avoid horses interacting with construction work traffic, proper horse crossings to be placed where the bridleway crosses roads (suggest that the British Horse Society, local Riding Clubs and local horse riders are consulted on this as well as bridleway diversions) and helipad is not placed in Brooms Covert on the Sizewell Gap road (Chinook helicopters using this helipad will spook horses on this diverted bridleway). We have endured horrendous noise, vibration, air pollution, increased traffic, increased traffic accidents, light pollution, abuse, construction work 24 hours, weekend construction work 12 hours a day (note: 24 hours and 7 days a week 12 hours a day working done continuously due to project deadlines / behind schedule), etc from the construction of the Greater Gabbard, Galloper and National Grid substations and the new National Grid connection to the overhead lines. We are still currently enduring elevated noise levels to the point of being unbearable from these operational compounds today as well as the Turbine noise from Sizewell B following the building of the Dry Fuel Store, the fallen and removed trees along the SSSI (entrance road to Nuclear sites), Coronation wood and Sizewell Went woods. Due to further removal of trees from the Sizewell Went wood for the Galloper substations compound and National Grid connection to the overhead lines there is more light pollution from the Greater Gabbard substations compound. There is also more light pollution from both Sizewell A and B sites following the fallen and removed trees along the SSSI, Coronation wood and Sizewell Went woods. For the well being of myself and nearby residents we cannot endure any further disruption, noise, light pollution, traffic, abnormal working hours, house price depreciation, etc from this construction project. Sizewell C construction will have a significant impact on us and our home due to noise, air pollution, vibration, traffic, visual impact and light pollution. Any noise, light pollution and visual impact mitigation measures (planting of bushes, new trees, etc) will take decades to grow (which we may not be around to see) to provide any visual and noise reduction. Retention of existing plantation, screening must be kept and added to at the earliest convenience. Better instant immediate mitigation measures need to be investigated and implemented to reduce the significant impact Sizewell C construction will have on the area, environment, residents, our home and us. There is no detail of what rights of way are going to be included at Aldhurst Farm habitat area, will there be access for horse riders (Bridleways, permissive paths)? Safe access for horses and riders needs to be maintained and managed on Sizewell Beach as many horse riders visit Sizewell to ride on the beach. We object to the helipad being placed in Brooms Covert on Sizewell Gap road near our house. This EDF Energy land has been set aside for many years as reptile mitigation land and during the ongoing Scottish Power Renewables (SPR) consultation 3.5 EDF Energy stated that this land could not be used for the SPR wind farm sub-stations because it was Sizewell C mitigation land. Now it is deemed ok to place a helipad there. It is also stated that the helipad would be used infrequently, but this is not the case as the RAF will use it for training which they have been doing in the past with landing at the Leiston Sports & Social Club. It has taken years of conflict with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and threatening of court proceedings to stop this. I have horses and these Chinooks used to circle a few metres above our chimney which scared the hell out of my horses and us. There is no need for this helipad to be placed on Brooms Covert or for the Power Stations to have a helipad at all. I have been advised by the Sizewell C Team that a Nuclear Power Station in the UK made a case not to have to have a helipad as part of their emergency arrangements. Both Sizewell B and Sizewell C need to do the same. If a helipad is still required then arrangements need to be made with Sizewell A to place it on their site within close proximity to the Sizewell C construction site. You cannot divert a bridleway right next to a helipad on a 60mph road (Sizewell Gap road) - horse riders and horses will die and more than likely anyone else involved in the accident. All buildings need to be finished sympathetically to blend better with this sensitive ANOB area, which includes the cladding of buildings identical to Sizewell B Power Station. This means there should be no 'concrete' looking buildings, therefore the Reactor Buildings will need to be cladded. This will mean investigating and implementing the correct design for the EPR Reactor buildings with no exception. We do not agree to a 'Dry Fuel Store' building being built for Sizewell C. The spent fuel should be sent for recycling by either using an existing facility or building a new one at Sellafield as Sizewell C will be the 2nd EPR in the UK, therefore there is no case to just store the spent fuel. ? The Sizewell site identified for the Sizewell C two EPR Reactor Nuclear Power Station is not the right site for this construction. This site only has the potential for construction of one Reactor Nuclear Power Station, as originally identified for Sizewell C (one PWR Reactor identical to Sizewell B PWR one Reactor Power Station next door). There seems to be very little prospects for local people to get work on the proposed Sizewell C project as a lot of the workers will have come off other projects (like Hinkley Point C) and will already have the skills and experience needed for this work. What real jobs will really be available for the construction and operational phases as it seems to me that staff from other EDF Energy facilities will take these (most of the EDF Energy fleet Nuclear Power Stations will no longer be operating when Sizewell C commences operation). The Tourism industry is currently worth £210,000,000 a year in the AONB which is predominately focused on the coastal fringe. The businesses will suffer in the area as tourists will not want to visit Sizewell beach, stay at the caravan sites, run in the 'Park Run' on a Saturday, join the events that utilise the Sizewell AONB area walks, etc due to the increase in traffic, congestion on the roads, noise, visual impact, air pollution, closed / diverted rights of way, etc caused by the construction of the proposed Sizewell C Nuclear Reactors Power Station. The proposed site for the Campus east side of the Eastbridge road is the best place for the Campus due to it being closer to the new road entrance to the Sizewell C site, it is already within the EDF Energy Estate. The site needs to be put back to green fields as soon as possible after the development with no exceptions. We do not agree with the proposed caravan site. This is too far away from the Campus and new road entrance to Sizewell C which will increase movements of both Sizewell C workers and traffic (park & ride, cars, motorbike, etc). The proposed entrances onto Lovers Lane / Sizewell Gap road are also dangerously positioned. An alternative site should be investigated (out of the Sizewell / Leiston area) or remove this facility all together. We do not agree with the 'Housing Fund' to increase housing / accommodation in this area. There has already been a huge reduction in agricultural land due to development in this area, therefore we cannot afford any more losses. Also Sizewell, Leiston and the surrounding villages / towns do not have the work, infrastructure, shops and facilities to accommodate any more increase in residents. Even now you can wait weeks to get a routine appointment at the Doctors surgery in Leiston. The rail-led strategy is the best option and appropriate together with the Beach landing facility proposed. It reduces the amount of traffic on the roads which will decrease congestion, air pollution, noise and decrease the likelihood of road accidents. The road-led strategy is inappropriate. We object to the Sizewell link road proposal. This will take more green fields / agricultural land (we cannot lose anymore in this area), split up more rights of ways (this endangers vulnerable road users and increases potential for road accidents) and visually impact this sensitive area. We agree with an electronic web-based Delivery Management System (DMS) and mandatory routes for HGV construction traffic, but this should also include the smaller delivery lorries / vans. There also needs to be significant consequences for business and workers who do not comply with these and speed limits. A new rail siding adjacent to the existing branch line on the land east of Eastlands Industrial Estate is the best option. It mitigates the need for lorries to constantly cross the road, thereby reducing congestion, air pollution, noise and decreases the likelihood of road accidents. Reconfiguration of the existing Sizewell Halt rail terminal is inappropriate. A new level crossing is appropriate and the best option. Restricting access of vehicles will only in the long run cause congestion, air pollution and noise elsewhere. The temporary closure of the level crossing is not appropriate. This planning submission lacks detail and stating that issues will be mitigated without any details is unacceptable. We object to the removal of Coronation Wood for the Sizewell B Relocated Facilities due to the new Sizewell C Power Station. The relocation of the Sizewell B buildings can all be placed on the Sizewell A site or off-site on anther brown field site. Coronation wood was planted by the Ogilvie family (the owners of this land) in 1911 to commemorate the coronation of King George V. Coronation wood with other nearby woodlands and land was only sold to the then Central Electricity Generation Board (CEGB) by the Ogilvie family due to threats of compulsory purchase. Coronation wood is over 100 years old, Sizewell's heritage and is only in a poor state, as described in your consultation paper, due to Sizewell B's present and past owners not maintaining this beautiful woodland area. Coronation wood is within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), a nationally designated sensitive landscape, adjacent to a Site of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI) and has many different species of resident wildlife, reptiles, birds, flora and fauna. National Parks, the Broads and AONBs have been confirmed by the Government as having the highest status of protection in relation to landscape and scenic beauty. This means that the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB has the highest status of national policy protection and therefore SHOULD NOT be used to relocate Sizewell B's facilities. Coronation wood provides not only a home for wildlife, but also screens a lot of the Sizewell B site from many viewpoints including the Dry Fuel Store (DFS) Building. The Sizewell B DFS Environmental Statement, submitted as part of the planning application for the DFS building, states on page 10 section 2.8 Landscape and Visual Amenity: 'Viewpoints away from the site are effectively screened by Coronation wood'. Page 11, section 2.8 continued: 'New and replacement planting following construction will continue to provide a physical barrier between the power stations and the nearby residential areas, and given time would enhance the overall diversity of the area by enhancing the surrounding woodland'. Referring also to the planning consent letter dated 22/07/2011 from the Department of Energy & Climate Change, VI. SECRETARY OF STATE'S CONSIDERATION OF THE EFFECT ON AN AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY: '6.3 The Secretary of State notes in this context that the proposed Development is surrounded on three sides by existing buildings relating to the Sizewell B generating station and when viewed from a number of public receptors near and far away from the site will be obscured by either woodland or buildings associated with the 'A' and or 'B' power stations'. Since Coronation wood was used in the planning application for the DFS building we cannot see how you can know decide that this wood can be removed. No matter what visual mitigation you propose in its place it will not replace the visual impact Coronation wood screens with its trees standing over 11 metres high on an elevated position. The visual impact of the proposed development on Coronation wood will be catastrophic to the Suffolk Coastal and Heath AONB, the SSSI and the residents, motorists, visitors and rights of way users including us. Since the construction of the DFS building we get elevated Turbine noise to the point of being unbearable from the Sizewell B Power Station which we never got before. We feel this is due to the DFS building being on an elevated location compared to the rest of the Sizewell B site and that the original height of the DFS building was increased. If Coronation wood was to be removed this would inevitably increase these noise levels at our house including noise from the new buildings, car parks, traffic movements, etc. This would be detrimental to our home life, well being and completely unacceptable There is also more light pollution from both Sizewell A and B sites following the fallen and removed trees along the SSSI, Coronation wood and Sizewell Went woods. Over the past few years Sizewell has lost 300 acres plus of agricultural land for 'Energy' supplies present and proposed (Greater Gabbard, Galloper, Sizewell C mitigation, cable routes and trenches, cable jointing bays, cable inspection points, National Grid, Interconnectors from abroad). This area cannot lose any further agricultural land, woodlands or accommodate any further 'Energy' developments. Sizewell is not an industrial site it is an ANOB, conservation area, SSSI, tourist location and home to Sizewell residents. We need to keep our agricultural land otherwise we will have plenty of houses and electricity, but will be unable to feed the country's population. By 2050 world food production needs to rise by 70% to feed the population. The road (Sizewell Gap) is the only access road to the Nuclear Power Stations, Sizewell village, Sizewell Beach and access to Leiston for HGVs / large vehicles. This is a 60mph road which already has high traffic movements which substantially increase during the summer months, Sizewell B Outages and projects, Sizewell A decommissioning projects, Sizewell A & B site shift changeovers, Business deliveries to Leiston and Sizewell Waste Recycling Centre. There are many accidents on this road each year. This increased massively during the construction phases of both Greater Gabbard and Galloper sub stations. The proposed Sizewell B relocated facilities lorry movements (140 lorry movements a day) and workforce (80 staff = estimated 160 car movements per day) for 4 years does not take into account the traffic movements for other projects: extension of Greater Gabbard and Galloper wind farms (when, how long, where, etc?), Sizewell C construction (12 to 24 months on Sizewell Gap road for lorries and staff - estimated at what?), Scottish Power Renewables Haul path road construction / operation (2021 onwards - lorries and staff - estimated at what?) and possibly the Interconnector cabling work (lorries and staff - estimated at what?) or give details of totals for all Sizewell A & B traffic and staff for normal operation and outage periods. There seems to be no consideration for residents living along the Sizewell Gap road, except EDF have made a point of missing Leiston. It is dangerous enough now for us to exit / egress our property especially with my horse lorry or Martin's 5m trailer. It is unacceptable to expect us to put up with the loss of Coronation Wood, construction work, construction traffic passing our house (though it has been made very clear that Leiston will not have to put up with this traffic) for more than 4 years (this is not including the other 7 x energy ventures in this area due to start in the next 2 years) on top of the already increased noise we endure from Sizewell B Power Station.