Representation by Bridget Chadwick
- Date submitted
- 27 January 2020
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
As a resident of the Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB and part of a family that has worked for decades to conserve the rare Sandlings heaths, I question how it can be a suitable place to build industrial-scale infrastructure? 1. While supporting wind energy it cannot be ‘green’ to destroy an environment, called “our rain forest” by an old British Energy information board, of which 90% has already been lost! The Suffolk Sandlings are nationally recognised with numerous designated SSSIs and represent 20% of the total lowland heath in the world. They are valued by millions of tourists who come for its bird- and wildlife, landscapes, tranquillity, to walk (two long-distance paths, the Sandlings Walk and Suffolk Coast Path), run, cycle, for peace and dark skies, all beneficial for health and wellbeing. This development would impact tourism, worth £210 million to our ‘Heritage Coast’, lead to job losses and social and economic decline as there are NO local jobs, just a huge influx of workers and traffic during construction, and ruin a beautiful village and countryside. 2. The road to Sizewell power station is already a hazard at peak periods and adding up to 300 vehicle movements a day is a huge concern for evacuation in the event of any nuclear emergency. We have not heard any evaluation of the COMBINED traffic impact together with the 1500 vehicles a day which EDF has indicated the construction of Sizewell C would see along the same roads. 3. The landfall at Thorpeness cliffs, eroding and already collapsed with loss of life recently, construction and haul roads will affect this purpose-built holiday destination, along with threatening three residential holiday destinations at Sizewell; one provides facilities for disabled, to the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, schools, community groups, Guides, Cubs, Brownies and other innovative programmes. 4. An extended timeframe of 12+ years if both SPR projects build separately and are followed by the proposed Nautilus and EuroLink connectors is hardly ‘temporary’ for wildlife. 100 acres of construction sites, haul roads and trenches with 24-hour lighting in the AONB at its narrowest point will sever the wildlife corridor and devastate endangered species: reptiles, glow-worms and birds that are declining: the nightjar, woodlark, turtle dove, stone curlew and others that are breeding and recovering: skylark, nightingale, marsh harrier, kestrel and several owls. The ‘headland’ at Thorpeness is also a landmark for migrating birds heading for RSPB Minsmere. Groundwater and aquafers are, in SPR’s own words, “sensitive to change”, and “highly vulnerable” water supplies for The Fens, a habitat for rare species of dragonflies and damselflies. No mitigation can save species here from so many years of disruption, the permanent loss of some mature woodland and hedgerows and no alternative space to go to, especially next door to and at the same time as the prolonged proposed construction of Sizewell C. This scenario is a loss for local communities, the AONB and wildlife, tourism, Snape Maltings, and therefore for the County and the country as a whole.