Pete Wilkinson, the group’s chairman, said today, ‘This is the last chance before the Development Consent Order for people of east Suffolk to submit their views about how the proposed EDF development will affect their lives.
‘The glossy consultation brochure states baldly that, ‘An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process is on-going and is being used to identify any likely significant effects arising as a result of Sizewell C’ (emphasis added). This renders the document premature and deliberately vague to the point of being misleading.
How can people therefore judge whether they feel the impacts are acceptable or not when the developer itself does not know to what degree and in which areas the environment will be degraded? Consultees are being asked, in effect, how they want the deck chairs arranged on the Titanic. TASC believes we should not embark on the Titanic at all and we encourage all those who agree with us to write to EDF, Dr Coffey and Greg Clark, the government minister responsible for this unnecessary monstrosity on our precious coast, to tell them so.’
TASC’s opinion is that very little of significance has changed since the 2nd consultation. The “Road-Led” vs “Rail-Led” strategies appear to be no more than a red herring to distract from the overriding fact that Sizewell C will have a devastating and unacceptable impact on the Suffolk coastal community. This is a rural area lacking in the type of infrastructure needed to construct such a massive industrial complex. It is this lack of major roads and railway lines that has made this area a mecca for walkers, cyclists, bird watchers and those that just enjoy the peace and tranquility of a beautiful landscape. There is no doubt that the monstrous folly of Sizewell C will put all this, and the vibrant and sustainable tourist industry that has developed around it, at risk.
Chris Wilson, the group’s press officer, added, ‘It is well known that TASC is totally opposed to this project. The more we know about it, the greater our opposition. The 3rd consultation document appears to lack any real detail as to the assessment of environmental impact of the numerous choices in the proposals, information that EDF will legally have to produce if they make a formal application for permission to build.
‘ The lack of detail in the consultation document seems at odds to EDF’s stated desire to proceed with the project as soon as possible:- after all they have had years to carry out that work. We are extremely concerned about the East Suffolk environment and the impact on those that call this place home, neither of which appear to be of importance to EDF, despite their glossy brochures and fine words.
‘ We will be studying all of the many facets of the proposals in the coming weeks and will be composing our response to EDF in due course. Replies to the consultation need to be submitted by 29th March and once our review is complete, we will be providing guidance to the public on our website on all the issues that we believe matter www.tasizewellc.org.uk.
‘At the same time TASC will continue with its ongoing work in challenging the government’s policy relating to nuclear power, in particular their national policy statement that nominates Sizewell as a potential site.’
For further information contact Chris Wilson, Press Officer, mobile number 07976 820524
or Pete Wilkinson, Chairperson, 07940 524 831
