Representation by Sarah Munden
- Date submitted
- 15 January 2020
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I write to object to the proposed building of EA2 substation at Friston by SPR. I am in full support of the representations being made about this project by Friston Parish Council, Substation Action Save East Suffolk (SASES) and Suffolk Energy Action Solutions (SEAS) Groups. I accept that renewable energy is needed, but I do not agree that vast areas of our valuable countryside should be permanently destroyed to achieve this. I want to raise the following objections to the project:- • The proposed site is very close to the rural village of Friston which has several Grade 11 listed buildings one of which is extremely close to the site, which will completely change the character of the village and the surrounding countryside. • Recently in 2019 Friston suffered from flooding due mainly to field run off which I believe will be made worse by this project. SPR state clearly that there is a flood risk due to the development however they take no account of surface water flooding. • The permanent removal of circa 30 acres of wildlife habitat across the site will cause significant impact to the animals and birds which live in this area. • In these times of global warming the removal of mature trees and woodland from the site and along the cable route caused by the project, has not been taken into account in looking at the carbon imprint of the project. • The harmonic filters at the substation that SPR plan will be 18 metres high they will cause substantial visual impact, and SPR do not show that these filters will be screened at all, and I also believe that the noise from these filters will carry a long way and cause an impact on both the residents and wildlife in the area. • SPR claim there will be no “humming noise”, however there should be no discernible noise from the substation inside or outside of residential buildings – this should be proven by measurement • The mitigation planting by SPR around the substation site is questionable as can be seen from the visualisation examples where the substation can be clearly seen on some examples in 15 years’ time. This will be especially so during the winter periods when the trees will be bare. • The impact on tourism / local businesses where demand for holiday lets / B&B’s along with walkers / cyclists are likely to suffer as a result of the disruption and visual impact on the area.