More than 100 rural businesses oppose Sizewell C
[Suffolk] More than 100 Suffolk rural businesses have written to the Prime Minister and Cabinet members, to express their opposition to Sizewell C, saying the project would carve up farmland and render productive land commercially and logistically unviable and that the impact of 1,000 HGVs per day, plus thousands of other vehicles would severely hamper farming and fresh produce operations across a significant proportion of the county.
The letter, signed by almost 150 individual business, farm and landowners, has also been sent to the National Farmers’ Union, Country Landowners’ Association, Suffolk Agricultural Association and copied to Suffolk MPs and Council leaders
John Poll of Old Abbey Farm, Leiston, whose farmland would be carved up by Sizewell C rail and road links, said: “We’ve had this uncertainty hanging over us for years, with repeated shocks as EDF revealed new proposals during the various consultation stages. We started with an open mind, but as the destructive nature of EDF’s plans have become more and more clear, we have been brought to this point where we totally oppose the project outright.”
India Bacon of Ward Farming, whose business would also be significantly affected said: “Every time we read EDF’s claims that Suffolk businesses support Sizewell C we feel outraged that the views of so many businesses – including those in our sector – are not represented, which is why we and our fellow farmers initiated this letter. We cannot see how this project is going to benefit our county, in fact we can only see that it will damage our local economy and put enormous pressure on our local infrastructure..
Alison Downes of Stop Sizewell C added: “EDF and the nuclear lobby are currently in overdrive, but the Prime Minister and political leaders at national and regional level need to hear that large numbers of Suffolk businesses do not support Sizewell C. We urge the NFU, CLA and SAA to adopt, at the very least, the view of Suffolk County Council on EDF’s plans, that the ‘disadvantages heavily outweigh the advantages.’”
The letter below is also signed by a further four businesses, represented by seven individuals, who requested their names be withheld from publication.
To: The Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP, The Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP, The Rt Hon George Eustice MP,
Minette Batters, President National Farmers’ Union
Mark Bridgeman, President, Country Landowners’ Association
Stephen Miles, President, Suffolk Agricultural Association
cc Rt Hon Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park, Victoria Prentis MP, Lord Gardiner of Kimble, The Rt Hon Therese Coffey MP, Dr Dan Poulter MP, Peter Aldous MP, The Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP, James Cartlidge MP, Jo Churchill MP, Tom Hunt MP
Cllrs Matthew Hicks and Richard Rout, Suffolk County Council.
Cllrs Steve Gallant and Craig Rivett, East Suffolk Council
We the undersigned, as rural business owners, farmers and landowners in Suffolk, write to express our opposition to EDF’s plans to build two new nuclear reactors at Sizewell.
The threat of Sizewell C has been hanging over the heads of many of our number for at least eight years now with no immediate end in sight. This would be tolerable if the Sizewell C project was for the “greater good” 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.
EDF’s Sizewell C site and associated development will carve up farmland and render productive land commercially and logistically unviable. The impact of 1,000 HGVs per day, plus thousands of LGVs, buses and cars, will be felt for miles around and severely hamper farming and fresh produce operations across a significant proportion of the county. This traffic chaos will also inevitably deter tourists, further undermining the very foundations of Suffolk’s resilient visitor economy which currently operates in harmony with agriculture on the Heritage Coast.
The past few months have more than ever shown the importance of domestic food production. East Suffolk is a key player in this; our land a carefully managed irreplaceable resource, essential to the production of sustainable food. In addition we have heavily invested in conservation measures to help develop and preserve habitat for key species of flora and fauna. These habitats, which successfully extend those provided by the Suffolk Coasts & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, will be irreversibly carved up and destroyed by EDFs roads and infrastructure, to the detriment of our environment and our county’s tourism industry.
We join other organisations and individuals that have reached the same conclusion, including the National Trust and Suffolk Wildlife Trust; business-leaders, former Ministers and MPs. We urge the National Farmers’ Union, Country Landowners’ Association and Suffolk Agricultural Association to support us and this letter, which is our declaration that – given the environmental sensitivities and economic impact – we oppose Sizewell C.
Signed:
David and Belinda Grant, Fordley Hall Farm, Fordley
Nat and India Bacon, Theberton Hall Farm, Theberton, NJ Bacon Farms, Ward Farming Ltd
William and Miranda Kendall, Bernard Page Wood & Co, Kelsale and Theberton
BE and EF Boden & Son, Trust Farm, Middleton
Philip Baskett, Church Farm, Theberton
LJ and EL Dowley, Theberton House
J R & K Poll, Old Abbey Farm
Zoe and Tony Readhead, FL Readhead and Company, Hill Farm, Theberton
Caroline Cranbrook OBE, Argus Hardy, and Jason Gathorne-Hardy, partners, Great Glemham Farms,
Martin Durie, Durie Partners, Camp Green Farm, Debenham
Robbie Gawthrop, East Green Farm, Kelsale
Nick Cross, S.W.Cross and Sons Ltd, Dairy Farm, Ixworth.
Richard and Robert White, Peakhill Farm, Theberton
James Hopkins, Denston
Michael Bunbury, partner, Naunton Hall Farms
Paul V Hartley. CEnv. Euro. Eng. CMIMST Agri., Carlton Green Farm, Carlton
George Vestey, The Thurlow Estate.
Celia and Paul Whitelock, Vale Farm, Middleton
Hon Edward Tollemache, Helmingham Estate Farms
Lord Somerleyton DL, Somerleyton
Chris Hollingsworth, Clopton Hall, Wickhambrook
Roger and Wendy Skinner, Hurts Hall, Saxmundham
The Duke of Grafton, Euston
Charles Sylvester, Peasenhall Lodge
Sir Kenneth and Lady Carla Carlisle, Wyken Hall, Stanton
Mark Marlesford, Marlesford Farms
Paul and Louise Cooke, Stanny House Farm Partnership, Iken
Jon Hunt and Max Hunt, Heveningham Estate and Wilderness Reserve
Stephen Brett, Eastbridge Farm
Sir Edward Greenwell, Gedgrave
Jonathan Franklin, Knodishall
Hon. Jeremy Prior, Brampton
Jack Rosenthal, Good Food Growers, Reckford Farm, Middleton.
Philip and Carolyn Westrope, Westrope Farming Ltd
Simon Prior, Church Farm, Shadingfield
Nicholas Percival, H C Percival Farms Ltd.
Robin and Sarah Ward, Valley Farm, Linstead Parva
Bill Goodacre, Consultant Agronomist – Retired
Peter Haig-Thomas, Park Farm, Brettenham
Michael and Sara Clarke, R. J. Clarke and Son
David and Dilly Clarke, Cherry Tree Farm, Badingham
G S Ogilvie, Hawsell Farm, Leiston
Hamish Ogilvie, Sizewell Estate
Martin Bowers, Strutt & Parker Farms, Brettenham
James and Nicky Bostock, Hintlesham Hall Farms
Stephen & Marion Fletcher, Park Farm, Charsfield
Basil Baker, Garden House Farm, Middleton
John Parkinson, Hoo Farming Co Ltd, Hall Farm, Hoo, Woodbridge
Evelyn Parkinson t/a CH & FM Parkinson & Son
Robert Skepper, Ferry Farm, Sudbourne
Teresa Rous, Dennington Hall Farms
Paul & Laura Rous, Yara International, Rothamstead Research
Stephen Tonkes, Spindlewood Farm, Halesworth
Andy and Charlotte Mayhew, JH Mayhew, Sheep Drift Farm, Waldringfield
Jean, Paul & Sue Clarke, K & J Clarke, The Hall, Woodbridge
Roger Middleditch, P H Middleditch & Son, Priory Farm, Wrentham
Mrs. B Chamberlain and Mr R H Chamberlain, Moat Farm Otley
Robert Yates, Town Fen Farm, Brampton
Joe & Annabel Ward, Ward Farming Ltd
P W Bloomfield Woodhill Farm, Yoxford
John and Susan Holmes at White House Farm, Frostenden
Peter and Lorris Hambling, Rookery Park, Yoxford
Bill Mayne, Burgh House, Woodbridge
Paul Tuckwell, L E Tuckwell Farms Ltd, Worlingworth
James Tuckwell, P Tuckwell Ltd
Richard Stanton, Manor Farm, Dersingham
Alan Fairs, Loombest Ltd , Park Farm Thorington
Lissie Fairs, Director, Hillfairs Farmers Ltd , Hall Farm Darsham
Philip Hardiman – director AW Mortier Farms Ltd
David Sprake, East Hall Farm, Denton
Sir Michael and Lady Patricia Hopkins, Blackheath House Farm, Friston
Chris Mayhew, Stratton Hall Farms Ltd.
Jonathan, Dulcie, Graham and Frances Crickmore, Fen Farm, Bungay
Timothy and Ruth Richmond, Little Dodnash Farm, Bentley
Robert Paul, Tidal Hill Ltd, Wherstead
AJ Paul, RH and R Paul, Broxstead, Sutton
Oliver Paul, Freston Farming Ltd
Andrew & Rebecca Greenwell, Capel St Andrew Farms and Capel Farming Ltd
James & Serena Greenwell, JP and SJ Greenwell, Capel St Andrews Farms
Iain & Davina Johnston, Low Farm, Butley
James Thurlow, Thurlow Nunn Standen
Iain and Kirsten Jamie, Glevering Hall Farm
David Langmead, Langmead Farms, Langley Dairies, Newshoots Limited
James Wrinch, RJ & HW Wrinch
Mark Watson, K & R & M Watson
Andrew Nott, AF & NM Nott
James Blyth, Friday Street Farm, Friday Street
Charles Hall, Keith Hall Fencing Ltd
Keith Southey, Glue Pot Farm, Bramfield
Simon & Laura Roberts, Union Farm, Bulcamp, Halesworth
Tom Barne, Miles and Tessa Barne, Tom and Anna Barne, Sotterley Estate
Mike Porter, Porters Farms (Walpole) Ltd
Henry Budgen, H & L Budgen, Rushmere Hall
Simon & Sally Illet, Moat Alpacas, Moat Farm Theberton
Tom Abrey, R G Abrey Farms
Guy Edmundson, Classic Festivals & Events
Lady Hermione Crisp, Kirby Cane Hall
Gavin Norman, GE Norman Contracting
James Foskett, James Foskett Farms
Frances Boscawen, Moat Farm Flowers
Stuart Baker, J E Baker and Sons Farming, Laxfield
Chris Mann, Mann Farms Ltd
Alex Mann, PJ & SA Mann Farms
Tom and Daniel Webster, Preservation In Action, Blythburgh
David Watson, Mill Hill Farm, Darsham
Mark Howard, Director, Glemham Hall Shoot Ltd
