Representation by Angela Skelcher
- Date submitted
- 24 January 2020
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I am greatly concerned about the proposed building of substations and associated infrastructure in my local area of Thorpeness and Friston because this is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the heart of a rural county. It should be protected from industrial and heavy development. There are up to 7 proposed energy projects coming up over the next 10-15 years, which would cumulatively seriously damage this environment. 1. The Thorpeness cliffs are fragile and not suitable for landing cables. 2. The substations will be large in area, and despoil the so far unspoilt countryside in Friston. 3. The noise, traffic and disruption will hugely affect the small villages and towns in this rural area that do not have the infrastructure such as large roads to cope with it. 4. Suffolk is famous for its night skies, which will be lost if there is major industrial works going on. 5. The county is also heavily reliant on tourism, which will cease once the AONB’s are spoilt. This will cause a reduction in income for many of our inhabitants. 6. I agree with wind farms as they will reduce our country’s carbon footprint, but it should not be at the expense of our precious unspoilt countryside. Brownfield and other industrial sites should be used, within a coherent, revised policy framework. I believe the current policy was drawn up several years ago and energy policy has changed since then. 7. Threats to wildlife, flora and fauna in the AONBs.