https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/sizewell-c-construction-opposed-by-suffolk-businesses-1-6856567

The letter, which was addressed to Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Alok Sharma amongst others, raised concerns about the site.

It has attracted signatures from almost 150 individual businesses, farms and landowners in the area.

In the letter they describe the nuclear power station as a “threat” which had been hanging over their heads for at least eight years.

“This would be tolerable if the Sizewell C project was for the ‘greater good’,” read the letter.

“But we have concluded that it is not necessary to meet the UK’s commitment to net zero, and would be a slow, risky and expensive waste of taxpayers’ money that removes opportunities to make use of alternative, green, deliverable and cost-effective energy solutions.

“Meanwhile, many of our plans are on hold at a time when farming faces the biggest changes to the policy framework governing our industry in over 50 years.”

The letter also raised concerns about the impact on farm production which owners say could “render productive land commercially and logistically unviable”.

They also argued that tourists could be deterred by the extra traffic on roads in the area.

“We join other organisations and individuals that have reached the same conclusion,” read the letter.

“Which is our declaration that – given the environmental sensitivities and economic impact – we oppose Sizewell C.”

EDF responded to the letter saying that they were already working with hundreds of business and hoped to work with the farming community more closely.

A spokesman for EDF said: “We are working hard to make sure Sizewell C is good for Suffolk businesses across many sectors and that we can work together to deliver a project that will help Britain meet its Net Zero targets.

“We have over 1,400 businesses registered to work with us on the project and local firms are already helping to build Hinkley Point C which has delivered £1bn in contracts to the region.

“We firmly believe that the farming community has a strong role to play in the project, whether that is through providing local food produce for our workforce or by using farm machinery powered by hydrogen that could be made at Sizewell C.

“We hope to form a Suffolk business farming alliance as we have done in Somerset, where 3 million meals have been produced to date by the Somerset Larder for the Hinkley Point C workforce. The Somerset Larder was formed by local business for Hinkley Point C but has extended its reach to work with many more firms in the region.

“By working with leading trade organisations for businesses in all sectors we hope to make the most of the project for Suffolk.”

https://www.eadt.co.uk/business/1400-people-register-for-jobs-at-sizewell-c-say-edf-1-6852463

The energy firm also said it has increased the number of apprenticeships it plans to offer from 1,000 to 1,500.

The news comes after EDF launched its ‘Young Sizewell C’ scheme designed to provide students in East Anglia with future job opportunities, should the station get approval to be built..

EDF bosses have said they are “really encouraged” by the interest as they moved forward with the £20billion project.

Earlier this week, more than 30 business and education leaders wrote to prime minister Boris Johnson urging the government to approve the station, highlighting the “huge local employment” benefits it could bring.

But EDF’s plans have been criticised by campaigners against the scheme, who have voiced concerns over its impact on wildlife, the environment and Suffolk’s tourism trade.

Julia Pyke, director of Sizewell C, said: “Thousands of local people stand to gain well-paid employment from the construction and operation of Sizewell C, just as we have experienced at Sizewell B.

“There will be a wide range of jobs available in all areas of the project and we are really encouraged to see so many local people already registering their interest to work with us.

“Many of the jobs will be in key legacy roles, such as civils and mechanical and electrical engineering.

“We will make access to those jobs easy for local people through a jobs service and the Young Sizewell C programme, which will give young people a route into pre-employment training and areas of support that maximise their life and employment opportunities.”

However, campaigners against the Sizewell C project believe a number of jobs would be lost in other sectors, such as tourism, if the station is built.

Alison Downes, of Stop Sizewell C, said: “We don’t deny that Sizewell C would create jobs, but jobs would be lost in tourism and existing business would be impacted by traffic congestion and losing workers to the project.

“Moreover, three-quarters of EDF’s 8,500 workforce would come from outside the region, especially from those building Hinkley Point C. They would need accommodation, creating social problems and straining local services.”

https://www.eadt.co.uk/business/unite-union-backs-sizewell-c-suffolk-1-6844012

The union is backing the Sizewell C Consortium of major contractors, which has said that the failure to build EDF’s proposed plant could cost the construction industry thousands of jobs.

The warning comes after Japanese firm Hitachi pulled out of the Wylfa nuclear power plant in Wales, which was quickly followed by Horizon Nuclear announcing it will be ceasing its activities to develop two projects in the UK.

Suffolk County Council has already said it cannot give its backing to the Sizewell C project – which is estimated to cost £20billion – without changes to the plans.

Other groups, like the RSPB and the Stop Sizewell C campaign, have made clear their opposition to the project on a number of grounds, including the environmental impact.

The government has already said it is “considering a range of financing solutions” for Sizewell C, one of which could involve it taking a stake in the project.

China General Nuclear Corporation has a 20% stake in the scheme, though tensions between UK and China have escalated in recent months.

Peter McIntosh, Unite’s national officer for energy, said: “The Sizewell C Consortium makes a strong case for ministers to get their skates on and approve the go-ahead for the new nuclear power station in Suffolk – thousands of highly skilled jobs hang in the balance.

“It is essential that a skills bridge is created from Hinkley Point, being constructed in Somerset, to Sizewell to ensure that the skills and the knowledge that have been acquired on the initial project can be transferred to Sizewell and are not lost to the country’s skill base.

“Such skills will be in high demand as the economy emerges into the post-Covid world.

“It has not been a good week for the UK’s nuclear industry with Hitachi deciding to withdraw from the Anglesey project – we can’t continue with this level of uncertainty afflicting a sector of which Britain was once the world leader.

“Unite repeats its call to business, energy and industrial strategy secretary Alok Sharma to bring forward the long-awaited energy White Paper which will guarantee that nuclear power is a vital part of the energy ‘mix’ in the years ahead, creating a source of ‘clean’ and reliable electricity, as well as a new generation of skilled ‘green’ employment.”

However, campaigners against nuclear power station project have called on Unite to not put pressure on the government during the planning process.

Charles Macdowell, of Stop Sizewell C and B1122 Action Group, said: “It’s utterly wrong for Unite to be pressing the government to approve Sizewell C while there is a planning process underway that would be totally prejudiced by such a decision.

“With so many individuals and groups opposing the project, and Suffolk County Council unable to support it, it’s vital EDF’s proposals receive detailed scrutiny, especially the unproven claims of economic benefit and jobs for local people, which are undermined by compelling evidence of job losses in tourism.”