Sizewell C - County Council debate Lib Dems/Greens/Ind Group motion

Liberal Democrat, Green & Independent group motion to Suffolk County Council called for the council to oppose the plans by EDF Energy to develop Sizewell C

The Liberal Democrat, Green and Independent group on Suffolk County Council took the opportunity to ensure that the Sizewell C planning application was debated in full Council and presented a motion to last Thursday's Council meeting. The motion calling for the council to oppose the plans by EDF Energy to develop Sizewell C, and set up a cross-party task group to consider whether the authority should support the principle of nuclear energy at all was defeated by the combined forces of the ruling Conservatives and the Labour members.

Whilst several Councillors from the ruling party indicated their opposition to the plans and others said that they still need to be convinced about building a new nuclear facility at Sizewell there were only four abstentions to the motion with 12 voting For and 50 voting Against, saying it was too early to formally oppose the plans and more work was needed to see if the issues raised could be addressed. Many referred to the 56,000-page development consent order which had only recently been published, meaning people have not had time to read it. It is understood the matter is now to be considered further at the September cabinet meeting.

Councillor David Wood from Suffolk County Council's Liberal Democrat, Green and Independent group proposed the Motion and said the development will do irreversible harm to the landscape and the authority should oppose EDF's Sizewell C plans expressing concern for the environmental and social costs and risks, the huge disruption and burden on local services, the importance of preserving our unique heritage coast, the detrimental impact on wildlife and ecology particularly in the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB, and the potential damage to our existing local economy including tourism.

Lib Dem Councillor David Wood added "We should be extremely proud of what we have here in Suffolk - our natural coast, the jewel in our crown and renowned the world over for its landscape, wildlife, flora and fauna, and should be doing all we can to protect it, not destroy it". He said, the plans had utter disregard for the environment and will have significant harm for the area from which we will never recover".

All Lib Dem County Councilors including, Inga Lockington, Penny Otton, Caroline Page and John Field spoke in favour of the Motion along with many Councillor members in the Group.

In the period allocated to public questions prior to the Motion being debated, concern was expressed about the lack of an overall government strategy for energy and the impact from the numerous energy schemes now in the pipeline on the same part of the Suffolk Coast.

Motion 2

'This Council is concerned about the severe environmental impact of Sizewell C on the Suffolk countryside including the Suffolk Coast & Heaths, AONB and the negative implications for the tourism and hospitality industries that will accompany this..

In addition, the Council notes the inherent problems with nuclear power as a source of energy. Renewable technologies are better alternatives to nuclear from both an environmental and financial perspective and funding and time should be invested in these energy sources instead.

Therefore this Council agrees to oppose EDF Energy's development of Sizewell C. In addition, this Council agrees to set up a cross-party policy development panel to consider whether to maintain the Councils in-principle support for new nuclear power'.

You may also want to watch the Council Debate on Motion 2 commencing at point 1:42:00 on the Agenda:

Sources: SCC meeting You Tube

EADT eadt.co.uk - Will Suffolk County Council support or oppose Sizewell C? 10 July 2020 jason.noble@archant.co.uk

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