Ipswich Star: Read Online
1 December 2016, by Richard Cornwell
Local campaigners on Sizewell C – Theberton & Eastbridge Action Group on Sizewell (TEAGS), B1122 Action Group and Minsmere Levels Stakeholder Group. L-R Jon Swallow, Amy Whitelock, John Rea-Price, Su Swallow, Gordon McInnes, Alison Downes, Charles Macdowell.
Campaigners have renewed calls for a dedicated relief road to be built to serve Sizewell C – and have urged the public to get behind the idea.
EDF has discounted a new road from the A12 to the coast, saying the B1122, with some safety improvements, will be perfectly adequate as the main route to and from the new nuclear power station.
Theberton and Eastbridge Action Group on Sizewell (TEAGS) says the power plant’s traffic will have a “devastating impact” on the area.
EDF says at peak construction there could be more than 1,500 lorry and bus movements a day – a 542% increase on current levels
TEAGS, which is not campaigning against the new power station and welcomes the benefits it could bring, wants to see a relief road, similar to the D2 route proposed but not built for Sizewell B.
It said as well as being the main traffic route, the B1122, a narrow, winding country road, would also be the emergency and evacuation route.
The group said: “The B1122 passes through three villages, and past Leiston Abbey and two retirement homes, and is clearly not fit to carry all the construction traffic. Its use will place an unfair burden of congestion, noise, pollution, vibration damage and accidents on local communities, and visitors.
“The project needs a dedicated relief road, direct from the A12 to the site. This would help reduce the impact on Yoxford, Middleton and Theberton as well as on tourism and ancient listed buildings. It would also reduce the risk of rat-runs from the wider area.
“A relief road would offer a second and more secure route for evacuation and emergency access.
“It would reduce pollution and disruption, and help secure delivery times to the site. After the build it could provide an economic legacy for Leiston and the area by giving better links to the A12 and avoiding inevitable congestion at Yoxford and Saxmundham.”
EDF admits the B1122 would endure a “significant increase” increase in traffic.
It has suggested a roundabout or traffic light junction at the A12 at Yoxford, plus a 40mph speed limit, work to reduce the road level near Middleton Moor to improve visibility and help traffic using Mill Street, and improvements to the road alignment, plus crossings and footpath work.