Sizewell C Update - The Environment
The process for deciding on Sizewell C is in full swing with the Planning Inspectorate holding 10 days of hearings ending on 16 July with follow-up written submissions on 23 July. The Inspectorate is given only 6 months from start to finish to make a recommendation to the Secretary of State — a harrowing timeline for something with such overwhelming environmental, community and transport issues. For those who are registered as Interested Parties — including the Walberswick Parish Council — it can be a monumental task to take part. Luckily WPC is not alone, but is joined by many other local Parish Councils, organisations such as Stop Sizewell C, Together Against Sizewell, Suffolk County Council, RSPB, the National Trust, Natural England, Suffolk Wildlife Trust and literally hundreds of others in trying to counter the arguments put forward by EDF.
One of the things that became clear in attending these hearings was how much devastation this development will cause to the Sizewell, Minsmere and Walberswick marshes, to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the SSSI and the risks it poses to the survival of the area's biodiversity and fish stocks off our coast. The bottom line is that Sizewell C is nothing like Sizewell A or B. It is massively bigger and will cause far more damage than these earlier power plants. EDF does not have sufficient land on which to build these two new gigantic reactors and therefore will require the taking of portions of the Sizewell marshes, the protected SSSI and AONB and, for its 'associated developments', woodland and agricultural land all the way to the other side of A12 as far as Wickham Market, Westleton and Darsham. One of the many casualties will be the Marsh Harriers. EDF argues that it is acceptable that these birds, saved from extinction in the UK in RSPB Minsmere, should now be displaced from their marshes by the building of Sizewell C.
There is still every possibility to stop Sizewell C but it will require large scale active engagement. WPC will post updates and information learned from taking part in the Inspection Process on the Village website regularly. Submissions made by the Parish Council can also be viewed at
http://walberswick.onesuffolk.net/walberswick-parish-council/consultation-documents/