Press Release, 6 March 2019

Campaigners to attend Suffolk County Council Cabinet on 12 March

Energy Groups come together for Photocall at Endeavour House, 1pm

Campaigners from Theberton and Eastbridge Action Group on Sizewell (TEAGS), B1122 Action Group and Minsmere Levels Stakeholder Group will join other energy-related campaign groups at Suffolk County Council HQ next week, to hold a short colourful demonstration and to ask questions at the Cabinet meeting. The Cabinet will be discussing its draft joint response (with Suffolk Coastal District Council) to EDF’s Stage 3 Sizewell C & D consultations and Scottish Power Renewables’ Phase 4 East Anglia One (North) and Two Windfarm consultations.

Groups and communities are stepping up to protect the Suffolk coast from a ‘perfect storm’ of seven huge energy construction projects that threaten to industrialise the area. Bound by a common desire to protect the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the area’s wild beauty and tranquility, the groups are calling for more central government leadership to ensure that all the impacts are fully assessed and justified together.

When: Tuesday 12 March, 1pm (Cabinet meeting begins at 2pm)

Where: Suffolk County Council HQ, Endeavour House, Ipswich

Reaction to the Joint Councils’ draft response to EDF’s Stage 3 consultations:

Alison Downes of TEAGS said “We are glad the Councils are making a joint response, and that they are not yet persuaded that the benefits of Sizewell C & D outweigh the impacts, as in our view the impacts have significantly increased since Stage 2, especially since EDF has abandoned a marine-led transport strategy. We appreciate Councillor Smith’s recognition that EDF has underplayed these impacts.” [1]

Paul Collins of TEAGS and MLSG said: “The Councils’ expressed concerns about the ecological impacts of Sizewell C & D, the risks to Minsmere and the threat to coastal processes are all in tune with our own views and we would have liked to see these issues included among the items that the Councils are “not content” about. We also appreciate the Councils’ acknowledgement that the location of the accommodation campus at Eastbridge remains a local concern.“ [2]

Charles Macdowell of B1122 Action Group said: ‘We welcome the fact that the Councils cannot support  EDF’s proposed Link Road [3] – a route which we strongly oppose – nor the prospect of 24 hour HGV traffic. We very much support their view that alternative routes need to be reconsidered, with much lower impacts on local people and their communities.”

Addressing the Groups’ shared concerns about the multiple energy projects planned for the area, Michael Mahony of SASES, Alison Downes, Paul Collins and Charles Macdowell said: “We are being failed both by the developers and by government. It is farcical that EDF’s and Scottish Power Renewables’ final consultations are running simultaneously with no proper assessment of their collective impacts on local people, roads and the environment. The number and sheer scale of these  projects are simply too much for this area. Communities are feeling overwhelmed, and we want to see more visible political support. The buck stops in Westminster – and we want Ministers to come to Suffolk to address our concerns, and take action to prevent this beautiful area from being swamped and destroyed by multiple  energy developments.”

Notes:

[1] Councillor Richard Smith said “We know from local knowledge and the feedback we have received through well informed community representation that some of the proposed impacts on the environment and our towns and villages would prove greater than which EDF Energy currently predicts.” https://www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/news/suffolk-councils-response-to-sizewell-c-proposals/

[2] Point 12 b xi of the draft response.

[3] Point 12 b xv ii of the draft response. “The provision of a relief road for the B1122 is welcome but the option proposed is yet to be supported by sufficient evidence”.

Contacts

TEAGS: info@stopsizewellc.org. Co Chairs Alison Downes, 07711 843884 or Paul Collins, 01728 635097. www.facebook.com/stopsizewellc.org, @TEAGonSizewell.

B1122 Action Group: Chair Charles Macdowell c.n.macdowell@gmail.com, 01728 648217 www.facebook.com/B1122relief

https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/sizewell-c-concerns-bring-hundreds-to-theberton-church-1-5904154

Suffolk residents pack out Theberton church to have their say on Sizewell C

PUBLISHED: 15:57 23 February 2019

Oliver Sullivan

Theberton church was full for the meeting called to discuss Sizewell C plans. Picture: PAUL GEATER

Theberton church, near Leiston, was packed out for a meeting to allow residents to voice their concerns about the proposed project.

This would see a new low-carbon twin reactor nuclear power station next to existing stations Sizewell A and B, the former having been shut down for decommissioning in 2006.

The meeting was chaired by broadcaster and Theberton resident Bill Turnbull who said it was important to give local people the chance to express their concerns about the proposals.

Residents have long been concerned that the plan will have long-lasting effects on the areas environment and tourist industry, while other issues such as roads, traffic and an anti-nuclear attitude were also voiced in the meeting organised by Theberton and Eastbridge Action Group on Sizewell (TEAGS).

Bill Turnbull chaired the meeting at Theberton Church. Picture: PAUL GEATER

TEAGS representative Charles McDowell said that “The link road they have proposed will cut parishes in two, breaks up fields and makes them inviable for farming.

“It makes you wonder if they [EDF] are out for revenge against the people of Theberton.”

The power station’s proximity to nationally renowned nature reserve, RSPB Minsmere ruffled feathers with residents concerned for the safety of the birds, and in turn the effect a downturn would have on the local tourism economy, worth £250 million.

Adam Rowlands, the RSPB’s Suffolk area manager, said: “In terms of flora and fauna in the area, this is a matter of international importance.”

Another resident said that the plans could see a ‘decimated natural environment’ left for his children and grandchildren.

County councillor Guy McGregor, who was responsible for the council’s previous response to the plan, said that although it would see opportunities for employment, the problems outweighed the benefits, highlighting the ‘constant stream’ of heavy goods vehicles that would create traffic and pollution.

EDF’s plans could see up to 1,500 HGVs on the county’s roads, in addition to the extra traffic that would be created by the construction of a new build town or campus which would house 2,400 workers at Eastbridge.

Richard Smith – who is now the county councillor leading negotiations with EDF – praised the efforts of TEAGS and residents, saying: “There is no better way for a community to voice its concerns like how you have. It sends a huge message to EDF.”

Mr Smith did warn however that the authority has ‘no direct power’, but urged residents to continue their campaign.

23 February 2019

Over 350 people crammed into Theberton Church this morning for a lively Public Meeting about EDF’s Sizewell C & D Stage 3 proposals. Co-hosted by Theberton and Eastbridge Action Group on Sizewell (TEAGS) and Theberton and Eastbridge Parish Council, the meeting was chaired by Theberton resident Bill Turnbull.

In addition to two sessions of comment and questions from the floor of the meeting, there were short presentations on the key issues; on Environment from Paul Collins (TEAGS and Minsmere Levels Stakeholder Group); People and Economy from Stephen Brett (TEAGS and Chair of the Parish Council) and Roads from Charles Macdowell (B1122 Action Group Chair). Alison Downes of TEAGS rounded up with guidance on how to respond to the consultations, and a leaflet was handed out containing this information as well as a summary of the key issues. The leaflet and notes from the presentations are available online at www.stopsizewellc.org/a4

Alison Downes, Co Chair of TEAGS, said: “It was overwhelming to see so many people at today’s meeting, from both near and far, demonstrating just how widespread are the concerns about Sizewell C & D. A majority of those who expressed their views this morning had reached the conclusion that the project should not go ahead, being too big and in the wrong place. It is telling how many people have changed their minds from being previously supportive or at least not opposed to the project, but have become appalled by the sheer scale and the reality of EDF’s current proposals. Whatever their views, we urge everyone to respond to EDF’s Stage 3 consultations by 29 March.”

Supporters are also being encouraged to take action by:

• Watching and sharing our two videos ‘Sizewell Hero’ and ‘What’s Coming for Sizewell’ – www.facebook.com/stopsizewellc.org
• Sending a message of concern to EDF via our online action: www.stopsizewellc.org/action.

Contacts

TEAGS: info@stopsizewellc.org. Co Chairs Alison Downes, 07711 843884 or Paul Collins, 01728 635097, www.facebook.com/stopsizewellc.org, @TEAGonSizewell.

Theberton and Eastbridge Parish Council: Chair Steve Brett, 07503 320645, stephen.brett@hotmail.co.uk

B1122 Action Group: Chair Charles Macdowell c.n.macdowell@gmail.com, 01728 648217, www.facebook.com/B1122relief

MLSG: Secretary Paul Collins, paul.f.collins1@gmail.com, www.facebook.com/MinsmereLevels