Representation by Maria Toone
- Date submitted
- 27 January 2020
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I object to this Wind farm and request that this planning application is rejected. There should be a ring main around the UK for these wind farms. The proposed wind farm does not take into account the full impact of both EA2 & EA1N projects, the proposed Sizewell C Nuclear Power Station, the Sizewell B Nuclear Power Station relocated facilities project and Outages, the Sizewell A Power Station decommissioning work, visitors, increase in residents (new housing projects), business, National Grid Ventures two interconnector projects (Nautilus and Eurolink) etc on this Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB area which has many special designated areas, wildlife and right of ways. The Sandlings SPA, which is an important area of habitat for several protected species has declined in the last century, represents 1% of total lowland heath left in the world will be significantly affected by these projects. The Tourism industry is currently worth £210,000,000 a year in the AONB which is predominately focused on the coastal fringe. The businesses will suffer in the area as tourists will not want to visit Sizewell beach, stay at the caravan sites, run in the 'Park Run' on a Saturday, join the events that utilise the Sizewell AONB area walks, etc due to the increase in traffic, noise, visual impact, etc caused by these projects. Even the Crown Estate report 'Understanding the impacts of offshore wind farms on wellbeing' 2015 identified that there is a localised loss in tourist numbers and expenditure for these developments. The road (Lovers Lane / Sizewell Gap) intended to be used for access to the Haul Path is the only access road to the Nuclear Power Stations, Sizewell village, Sizewell Beach and access to Leiston for HGVs (which are no longer restricted to 40 mph) / large vehicles. This is a 60mph road (National speed limit) which already has high traffic movements which substantially increase during the summer months, Sizewell B Outages and projects, Sizewell A decommissioning projects, Sizewell A & B site shift changeovers, Business deliveries to Leiston and Sizewell Waste Recycling Centre. There are many accidents on this road each year. This increased massively during the construction phases of both Greater Gabbard and Galloper sub stations. The proposed entrances off this road to the suggested Haul Paths compounds are placed on dangerous spots on the Sizewell Gap road. There are safety issues at Household Recycling site: 1) parked vehicles in road when site closed for container movements and when no available spaces for unloading, 2) site entrance less than 200 m and unsighted of brow of hill for vehicles travelling North towards the B1122. This road (Lovers Lane / Sizewell Gap) requires a reduction to 30mph for the duration of the project and as a permanent solution for the whole length of this road from the B1122 to Sizewell village. There should be vehicle activated speed warning signs to reinforce the reduced speed limit. Further signage warning of turning vehicles in/out of properties, especially at (redacted) We have a 7.5 ton horse lorry (which carries 3 horses) and a couple of very large over sized trailers which we have to manoeuvre in and out of our entrance by crossing both lanes of this road. The projects need to police all routes to ensure compliance with authorised routes to sites and to posted speed limits. The Sizewell area cannot accommodate the proposed haul road with an approx 60 metre plus working width. The proposed area consists of SSSI, conservation area, common land, stewardship land, agricultural land, grazing land and many different rights of ways which will be decimated by this haul road. No right of way (Byway, Bridleway, Footpath, Permissive path) shall be closed off. This whole area and rights of way are used daily 365 days of the year by many individuals, groups, farmers, etc for, but not limited to: walking, running, cycling, horse riding, orienteering by large numbers of individuals and group, etc and it will be detrimental to the area, tourism, well being of residents and businesses if any such areas and rights of way are closed. Diversions must be in place if for any reason a right of way has to be closed for safety reasons. Horse riders are considered vulnerable road users, therefore it is essential for health and safety reasons that all tracks (no existing tracks are to be upgraded to allow construction traffic use), rights of way, permissive paths, bridleways, etc are properly managed during these projects to ensure traffic and construction work does not endanger horses and riders. There is terrible coastal erosion to the south of the Sizewell gap road. Last year this coastal erosion between Sizewell and Thorpeness took the life of one person and the gardens of a number of houses in Thorpeness. The proposed landfall site area which could be up to 8 acres in size and the horizontal directional drilling required will erode this coast line further and endanger housing, land and the people who use the beach and rights of way. An alternative connection needs to be made in a different location other than Thorpeness and the Sizewell area. We have endured horrendous noise, vibration, air pollution, increased traffic, increased traffic accidents, light pollution, abuse, construction work 24 hours, weekend construction work 12 hours a day (note: 24 hours and 7 days a week 12 hours a day working done continuously due to project deadlines / behind schedule), etc from the construction of the Greater Gabbard, Galloper and National Grid substations and the new National Grid connection to the overhead lines. We are still currently enduring elevated noise levels to the point of being unbearable from these operational compounds today as well as the Turbine noise from Sizewell B following the building of the Dry Fuel Store, the fallen and removed trees along the SSSI (entrance road to Nuclear sites), Coronation wood and Sizewell Went woods. Due to further removal of trees from the Sizewell Went wood for the Galloper substations compound and National Grid connection to the overhead lines there is more light pollution from the Greater Gabbard substations compound. There is also more light pollution from both Sizewell A and B sites following the fallen and removed trees along the SSSI, Coronation wood and Sizewell Went woods. For the well being of myself and nearby residents we cannot endure any further disruption, noise, light pollution, traffic, abnormal working hours, house price depreciation, etc from these proposed projects. There needs to be a reduced number of working hours (8am to 5pm) and days (Monday to Friday) on these projects and strict controls to ensure compliance within these working parameters e.g. staff not to be allowed to enter working areas or start work until the designated time. No extensions to be authorised at all especially due to the projects being behind schedule. There is going to be detrimental effects on the environment, people's health and habitat from the increased transmission of electricity on the overhead pylons (EMF - Electromagnetic Field). I have noticed a huge difference to the weight on the transmission lines (lowering affect), noise levels from the pylon and transmission lines since the Galloper Wind farm became operational. These overhead lines cannot take the electricity generated by all these developments without increasing the risk to the environment, people's health, habitat and interference with other electrical devices nearby (residential properties). National Grid needs to install new connections elsewhere across the country to stop one area being overwhelmed by energy installations, becoming a security risk (too many energy installations on one National Grid line in a single area), increasing the risk of EMF and noise levels.