Representation by Paul Sturridge
- Date submitted
- 27 January 2020
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I wish to object to this Scottish Power Renewables planning application because of the damage it will do to the Suffolk Heritage Coast area and its communities. There appears to be no nationwide plan for the coming infrastructure needed to change to a green economy and the government is allowing foreign owned energy companies to research and choose the most cost effective sites FOR THEM, but if this is allowed it will be to the detriment of the citizens of the UK as they will lose even more of our precious few areas of unspoilt countryside. Building a massive electrical substation in this area will: - Destroy ancient woodland - Cause Light pollution and destroy one of the few dark sky areas in England as well as noise pollution. - Threaten wildlife, the Sandlings Heath, cause problems to the large numbers of migrating species and severe a wildlife corridor by the 11km of cable trenches needed to go inland. - Destroy the peace and tranquillity enjoyed by tourists and deter them coming, which would impact on businesses in Suffolk and cause economic decline in the short and long term. - Would start a precedent that could see the Suffolk Heritage Coast become the 'energy hub' of the country instead of spreading substations over other areas of the country where they could be on brownfield sites and would also provide jobs for depressed areas. - Impact greatly on local communities and tourists with up to 7 energy projects occurring consecutively over 12 - 15 years - Unsuitablility of Thorpeness Cliffs as a site for landing cables - Local road network would struggle to cope with the high levels of HGVS and may block evacuation routes in the event of a nuclear incident at Sizewell - Air pollution in an area tourists come for respite from the pollution of towns and cities - Permanent and temporary loss of PRoWs enjoyed by locals and tourists. - Unsuitablity of placing a substation at Friston the size of Wembley Stadium which would dominate the village which is already liable to flooding - Increased traffic would cause a danger to cyclists, residents and horse-riders LOCAL COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS THE WIDER PUBLIC SHOULD HAVE A SAY in where the new infrastructure for renewable energy is placed - not only to minimise the impact on residents, tourists and wildlife but also to benefit depressed areas of the country where there are a lack of jobs where it would be welcomed. It should not be placed where the priority is for the maximising of profit for foreign companies and interests. In that way the government will help fulfil its promise for the people of the UK to take back control of their country and futures.