Representation by Mike Flower
- Date submitted
- 19 January 2020
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I live in Friston and object to the devastation to communities and the environment that the building and siting of the huge permanent substations by SPR will cause. I work full time and travel to Martlesham using the B1121 Aldeburgh to Saxmundham Road as well as A12/A1094 junction (Friday Street). These roads are used by residents and tourists and the impact by adding construction traffic, clogging up this beautiful part of the Suffolk coastline is ill concieved and will damage the area forever. I wish to add my support to all the representations made by SASES and Friston Parish Council. The substations will have a significantly detrimental impact to the heritage of the village and surrounding area. No mitigation by SPR with their suggestion to plant native plants and trees, will ever replace the loss of more than 80 acres of quiet open countryside and disguise substations 18 metres at their highest. Flooding is of real concern following significant flooding in the village in 2019 which without intervention by resident almost entered homes and the village pub following heavy rain running off the fields. SPR know that there is an increase in flood risk due to their planned onshore development. However, the is no demonstration that their proposed mitigation measures are enough or even achievable. I walk daily around the village and it is a pleasure to use the footpaths and public rights of way. Under plans walking the historic path between Friston and Knodishall will not be possible as the footpath will be permanently closed. Residents close to the siting of the substation will likely experience noise after construction. Changes in the weather result in traffic on the A1094 being in Friston some days and not others. Pigs in the fields can be heard some days and not others. There should be no discernible noise from the substations inside or outside local houses and this would need to be measured. Quiet country lanes surround the village and the character will be destroyed with new traffic routes installed during construction. SPR and National Grid claims to have consulted with a range of stakeholders. However, suggestions by SASES and others to ‘digg’ substations into the landscape have been ignored. Throughout the process there has been a total lack of strategic, long term planning by central government, local government and the energy sector to address the cumulative impact of seven other energy projects in Suffolk. There will be no benefit locally, no jobs, and woodland permanently removed by an offshore windfarm that requires 9km of destructive cable corridor to bring power onshore.