All posts by Alison Downes

The great China dilemma, Sunday Times 24 May 2020

Caught between two superpowers, Britain faces difficult decisions on everything from nuclear power to medicine.

John Collingridge, The Sunday Times. Read online

On the picturesque Suffolk coast, a battle is intensifying that will help define Britain’s relationship with China. In one corner is a group of celebrities and locals, including the Love Actually actor Bill Nighy, and Andy Wood, chief executive of Adnams brewery in Southwold. In the other are two nuclear power giants, Electricité de France (EDF) and China General Nuclear (CGN). China and France want to build Sizewell C, a nuclear power station capable of supplying 7% of the UK’s electricity.

The Stop Sizewell C campaigners share one concern with some politicians, notably the hard right of the Conservative Party: why is Britain relying on China to supply its electricity? “China is adept at cyber-attacks,” said Alison Downes of Stop Sizewell C. “I would doubt whether there could be a 100% cast-iron guarantee that operating systems were immune to that. Even if you set aside security concerns, you’ve got real vulnerabilities with a government that is prepared to use economic sanctions.”

Sizewell is just a part of the communist state’s Belt and Road initiative to dominate the world with cash, technology and influence. It plans to use the UK as a showcase for its nuclear technology, with state-owned CGN providing 20% of the funds for Sizewell. China is also helping bankroll the delayed and over-budget Hinkley Point C power station in Somerset.

However, the bigger prize lies on the Essex coast at Bradwell. There, 40 miles east of London, CGN wants to install its homegrown HPR1000 nuclear reactors. CGN will be the two-thirds owner of the Bradwell plant, EDF the junior partner. EDF and CGN claim that the power stations will be impervious to cyber attack.

China’s ambition and its multibillion- pound investments — Hinkley alone will cost up to £22.5bn — are starting to look questionable.

Read online

56 Towns and Parishes write to Council Leaders

[11 May 2020] 56* Town and Parish Councils have today written to Matthew Hicks and Steve Gallant, the leaders of Suffolk County Council and East Suffolk Council respectively, reiterating their disappointment that the leaders say they are “supportive” of EDF submitting its application for a Development Consent Order for Sizewell C, but urging them to strongly hold the line that it would not be appropriate to start public (Section 56) consultations whilst coronavirus restrictions remain in place. This follow up letter was coordinated by the Anglian Energy Planning Alliance and Stop Sizewell C.
Tim Beach, chair of Snape Parish Council said: “We still maintain that EDF would be wrong to submit its Sizewell C application at the moment. We are disappointed and surprised by Suffolk County Council and East Suffolk Council saying they are “supportive” of EDF doing so, when many communities are working flat out to support the local government response to the pandemic. The caution the Prime Minister used in his public address last night tells us that our communities will be facing restrictions for many many months to come.”
Stephen Brett, chair of Theberton and Eastbridge Parish Council said: “The support we have had for this letter is amazing. There is a real sense of solidarity among towns and parishes in east Suffolk, and a shared determination to defend the principle that everyone must be able to fully engage in scrutinising the Sizewell C application when it comes. The County and District Councils must stand firm and we hope this overwhelming support strengthens their ability to do so.”
Alison Downes of Stop Sizewell C added: “We are grateful to each and every Town and Parish that signed this letter or wrote their own, and to the many that tried but found it challenging to make a decision whilst their face to face meetings are wholly suspended. This highlights just how difficult it will be for them – many of them statutory consultees – to deal with EDF’s application, so we are depending on the County and District Councils to be extremely robust in defending the right of all of us to have our say.”
* In addition to the 56 that signed, Framlingham Town Council and Great Bealings Parish Council sent individual letters of concern to the two leaders. 56 Town and Parish Councils – Letter to SCC ESCMay 2020

Letter to EDF France Board 5 May 2020

Stop Sizewell C has written to Jean Bernard Lévy and the Board of EDF ahead of its Annual Shareholders’ Meeting this Thursday, 7 May 2020. Its UK operation, EDF Energy, is expected to submit its Development Consent Order (DCO) application for Sizewell C any day.
The letter urges the Board – given the scale of challenges closer to home – to walk away from the risky Sizewell C project, which there is as yet no means of paying for, in order to focus on the company’s more profitable renewables business and the life extension of the French reactor fleet.
 
Click to read the letter in English and in French, and EDF’s reply