Representation by Sizewell A & B Sites Stakeholder Group (Sizewell A & B Sites Stakeholder Group)
- Date submitted
- 27 January 2020
- Submitted by
- Non-statutory organisations
Sites Stakeholder Groups (SSGs) were formed with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) under the Energy Act 2004. The groups’ remit is as “a conduit for information between the industry and the public” around existing nuclear power stations. We meet four times a year to receive reports on/discuss a range of matters which affect local communities and hold the industry and regulators (Office of Nuclear Regulation and Environment Agency) to account. Our membership includes individuals and elected representatives of Parish/Town Councils in communities around the Sizewell A and B nuclear power stations. The Sizewell SSG is not opposed to the development of renewable energy and offshore wind farms in principle as part of the energy mix and to assist our achievement of zero carbon targets - but it does object to this Scottish Power Renewables planning application due to the following concerns: 1. Insufficient consultation/consideration of the impact on Emergency planning including; access for blue-light services and public evacuation routes, increase in HGVs and other traffic (LGVs and workers’ vehicles) road-closures, pinch points on an already vulnerable road network - especially during Outages at the operating station (Sizewell B) and during daily peak travel times for both sites. Safety concerns related to road traffic accidents at sites of previous fatalities such as A1094/A12 junction and Yoxford/A12 junction which would require extensive mitigation schemes, and the effect on other local roads through displacement. 2. Application does not include impact of potential projects in the same geographic area (as not consented) even if these have began formal consultation and appear to be current Government principles to be delivered (EN6). Serious concern that this project may overlap/follow immediately in sequence with potential new build at Sizewell C causing unprecedented industrialisation, environmental damage, harm to wildlife/habitats, economic downturn, and traffic chaos in the same small geographic area. These projects should not be considered piece-meal but in a holistic coordinated way. 3. Concerns of light, noise, air pollution, dust and general disruption (finite volume of available accommodation for workforce with perception/fear of increased antisocial behaviour and the long-lasting negative impact on tourism, health and well-being of residents, visitors and those working in this area) during construction of the huge substation complexes in the small village of Friston, and the associated infrastructure (landing cables at nearby Thorpeness with 11Km of cable trenches across the area). 4. The new National Grid substation has not been considered in a transparent way (a hidden part of this application). This will set a dangerous precedent for the sacrifice of AONB, SSSI, agricultural land, historic woodland and lead to additional energy project connections to the grid at this point in Suffolk (further windfarms and EU Interconnectors) each with the need for multiple convertor stations, more cable trenches and landing points. In conclusion the significant and unprecedented harm of this application (as proposed) outweighs any benefit.