Proud to Stand with Suffolk against Sizewell C: Nuclear Free Local Authorities back Sunday’s march and rally
UK and Ireland Nuclear Free Local Authorities are backing the people and communities of Suffolk in their march and rally next Sunday (15 May) against the proposed Sizewell C nuclear power plant.
In a message of solidarity sent to the organisers at local campaign groups Stop Sizewell C and Together Against Sizewell C, the Chair of the NFLA Steering Committee Councillor David Blackburn confirms that the NFLA ‘will be proud to continue to stand with you’ in the fight to oppose the unwanted reactor and urges local people to keep up the fight as ‘you have right on your side and history shows that right shall always prevail’.
The NFLA has opposed the Sizewell C development from the start, and has recently objected to the belated planning application from EDF for further testing of ground conditions at the proposed site; written to the pension fund Aviva urging them not to invest in the project; and made a formal complaint to the Civil Service about the misconduct of the Secretary of State for Energy in prematurely signalling the government’s support for Sizewell C despite his own department having not yet given formal planning approval for this project to proceed. The formal announcement of this decision is expected on 25 May.
Councillor Blackburn said: “Boris Johnson and Kwasi Kwarteng may have said they want Sizewell C, but this does not mean that the people of Suffolk have to have it. Even if ministers do give the go-ahead the outcome is still most uncertain, and this is going to be a long and a hard fight. If the people of Suffolk and local anti-nuclear campaigners can continue to stand firm in their resolve to oppose Sizewell C there is every chance it will fail.
“Nuclear power is not the answer to Britain’s energy crisis nor to the climate emergency – it is way too expensive, would come at least twenty years too late, is always accompanied with operational risk, and leaves a toxic legacy of radioactive waste for countless generations to deal with.
“We would urge everyone who can from across the county and beyond to join the march and rally on Sunday 15 May and show once more that Suffolk says No to Nuclear. Although the NFLA cannot be represented in person, we will absolutely be with you in spirit”.
The march will be held on Sunday 15 May. Marchers are asked to gather at 9.30am at the Victory Road Recreation Ground in Leiston; the march will move off at 10am. The rally will take place on Sizewell beach from 11.15 for about an hour. Speakers include Adrian Ramsay, Co-Leader of the Green Party in England and Wales, Cllr Louise Gooch, Labour Party Environment Spokesperson on East Suffolk Council, Pete Wilkinson of TASC and Alison Downes of Stop Sizewell C. Coaches will bring people back to Leiston afterwards.
