Erosion in front of SZC Site 01.23
Press Release – no embargo
17th January 2023
TASC to tell the nuclear regulator that startling evidence of recent coastal erosion at Sizewell should rule out Sizewell C nuclear site licence.
Photographs (above & below) taken in January 2023 showing the impacts of climate change on the vulnerable Suffolk Heritage Coast, definitively and unarguably rule out the site as a safe location for the planned Sizewell C development, say TASC campaigners.
The pictures, taken in front of the Sizewell C site by a local resident, demonstrate the vulnerability of the Suffolk coast to erosion and to storm surges, a devastating consequence of extreme weather patterns which are predicted to occur far more frequently in the near future, the impacts being further compounded by predicted sea level rise. The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2019 report states that by 2050 – just a decade or so after Sizewell C could become operational “Extreme sea level events that are historically rare (once per century in the recent past) are projected to occur frequently (at least once per year) at many locations by 2050”. EDF’s own documents report four storm surges of 3 metres or more during the last century, including 1953 at 3.44 metres above ordnance datum (AOD).
TASC’s, Pete Wilkinson, said today, ‘Many local residents have grave concerns about the safety of the Sizewell C site for its full lifetime and the evidence provided by these images flies in the face of the Office of Nuclear Regulation’s insistence that they see no impediments to issuing a nuclear site licence for Sizewell C. The ONR and other government agencies should not ignore what is staring us in the face: building a nuclear power plant in such a vulnerable location and disregarding the dire warnings of the IPCC is tantamount to a dereliction of duty and we demand that the ONR admits that it is in error and announces that Sizewell is ruled out once and for all as a site suitable for a future nuclear development. To do otherwise would reveal the regulator purely as an enabler of government ideology rather than as a responsible regulator working to protect nuclear communities.’
TASC will write to the ONR demanding that these pictures and the implications of the evidence of coastal erosion at Sizewell are discussed at a meeting currently being arranged between NGOs and the ONR.
Pete Wilkinson added ‘ This generation’s inactivity on climate change has already compromised future generations. To proceed with Sizewell C while being fully aware that it is highly vulnerable to sea level rise, storm surges and flooding, only adds to the inter-generational burden we pass on. Deliberately doing so when alternatives to nuclear power are available, is irresponsible, immoral and borders on being criminal.’
Perhaps EADT should have used these pictures sent to TASC & shared with EADT for publication!
