Representation by Sizewell Residents’ Association (Sizewell Residents’ Association)
- Date submitted
- 24 January 2020
- Submitted by
- Non-statutory organisations
Sizewell residents are gravely concerned about these plans because 1). They involve drilling on an already fragile and eroding coastline. The corraline crag has been shown to be a hugely stabilising feature of this particular area. It is also an important traditional ground for lobster and crab potting. 2) The lorry route to Thorpeness is identified as the Sizewell Road/LoversLane - this is not the existing lorry route to Thorpeness which could and should be used ..the Sizewell Road/Lovers Lane is the only road in and out of an operational nuclear site (SizewellB) and this includes any access for emergencies, whether accidental or deliberate. This is a serious concern and one which has been dismissed as irrelevant in these plans. The use of this road could easily be avoided. It is also the only road for residents, visitors, and businesses which include a Conference Centre, and two caravan sites, as well as pub and cafe. Tourism now plays an important part of the economy, as well as being important for the well-being of the many dog-walkers, birdwatchers, and Park Runners using the beach. It is also the only access to a decommissioning nuclear site(SizewellA), and a highly likely further nuclear site (SizewellC) certainly in the initial construction phase. 3) The cable route should not come via Sizewell at all, since there is a much less intrusive more direct route that could be taken - the ‘planned’ rote has come about through fault-ridden initial enquiries, and which ignore the issue of it passing directly adjacent to permanent homes..not second homes..and dismissing the possibility of using underground routes in sensitive locations. 4) Residents and industry have maintained a balance here which meets the needs of all, including tourism and leisure pursuits, and this has been hard won through good communication, consultation and negotiation, none of which have been shown by this Company. The project jeopardises this balance, and indeed need not involve Sizewell at all. 5) Sizewell surely has enough upset to deal with as a main provider of energy without further projects being foisted on us. This project does not even offer long-term employment opportunities, badly needed here. 6) We surely must take a strategic view of plans, plans which must treasure our AONB’s, coastlines, and greenfield sites, and especially as we now recognise the importance of mental and physical health. The current plans are based on poor and superficial initial investigations, and have come about through poor handling of the Company’s own plans for Bawdsey etc in their EA1/EA3 work. There changes were made only in the Company’s interests, not for the good of electricity supply, nor the good of the nation. This current Application (and the many other suggested energy plans ) should not be rushed through in this ad hoc way, and should be thoroughly thought through.