Representation by Marie Szpak
- Date submitted
- 26 January 2020
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I fully support the points made by SASES and Friston Parish Council. I am in favour of renewable energy and offshore wind farms but not the destruction of the countryside resulting from a lack of strategic thinking and planning. • The peace and tranquility of my Grade 2 listed cottage is threatened by SPRs (Scottish Power Renewables) proposed substation, the site boundary of which has become closer to the village, our Grade 2* listed parish church and my property since initial consultations • Noise, dust and light pollution will destroy the heritage of the village – SPR has failed to address the concerns of the villagers - their documentation even says there will be less noise when constructed than there is currently – this is impossible! • Blighted by noise and air pollution with an enormous industrial scale series of buildings less than 250 metres away I am worried that the solemnity and dignity of services: marriages, funerals and burials will be destroyed and major annual fundraising events for the Church and local charities will be threatened • The proposed site will desecrate 30 acres of the countryside surrounding the village with a loss of agricultural land, wildlife, trees and hedgerows; nothing can mitigate the effects of this permanent loss • Misleading visualisations do not accurately reflect the impact on the village, appearance is an issue; SPRs alleged timescales for tree planting and growth are inaccurate • Friston suffers from flooding – covering fields in concrete will mean a greater risk of flooding for the village; SPR reneged on their promise to send a flood engineer to inspect the site to alleviate the fears of residents! • The local roads surrounding the proposed construction site have no pavements, villagers, especially dog walkers have to use these roads - this is a safety issue: increased road traffic due to construction HGVs and workers’ vehicles adds risk of accidents • Loss of footpaths will trap residents in their homes, accessible footpaths are key to the physical and mental well being of villagers. Suffolk County’s ‘One Life Suffolk’ which aims to help local people lead healthier lives has a ‘health walk’ in the village and surrounding countryside – this will be permanently lost • Elderly vulnerable residents aged 90+ risk losing their homes and ease of access to visit deceased loved ones in the churchyard as they live adjacent to the SPR site boundary and proposed haul roads • Once ‘an Englishman’s home was his castle’ – now residents talk of increased feelings of anxiety and depression about the future –lack of new people to the village and an inability to sell homes to downsize and/or to pay for health care • SPR is solely motivated by corporate greed: the profit to be made NOT limiting the human cost of their actions – nothing can mitigate the sense of injustice felt by residents • SPR do not address the impact the substation will have on tourism in the area, there will be job losses NOT new jobs for locals • At a time when we should be becoming more aware of environmental considerations, growing local and supporting our farmers we are threatened with the loss of agricultural land and hedgerows • The proposed landfall site is fragile; a crumbling sandy shoreline, RSPB Minsmere and the AONB - protected lands face being dug up, countless trees are planned to be cut down with an additional permanent loss of natural habitats for wildlife • The cumulative impact of other proposed works in the area: Sizewell C, National Grid Ventures Interconnectors and the extension of the Galloper an Greater Gabbard windfarms • The “Heritage Coast’ is being lost to the ‘energy coast’