Suffolk Coastal Liberal Democrats discuss Sizewell C proposals

On Saturday, members of Suffolk Coastal Liberal Democrats (and some very welcome non-member friends) met in Saxmundham to discuss issues arising from the Sizewell C Stage 2 Consultation. We touched on many topics, but top priorities for us locally relate to the transport and accommodation proposals. The message we most want to convey is that the Sizewell C development should leave a positive legacy for the communities that its construction phase is to disrupt so severely.

For example, we believe that building a 2,400-person accommodation campus will have a highly detrimental effect on Eastbridge and Leiston. We would strongly prefer decentralised provision that can later be adopted by the local community to use as much-needed affordable housing.

We have serious concerns about the effect of Sizewell-related traffic on the A12 and at key junctions, and we think that the proposal to use the B1122 (pushing up to 900 HGVs per day through Middleton Moor and Theberton) is untenable. Although not included as consultation options, we support both the four-village by-pass on the A12 (http://www.a12bypass.co.uk) and the creation of the "D2" relief road for the B1122 (http://teags.org/transport/).

We urge everyone to read the summary proposals from EDF (referring to the full consultation document for details such as traffic flow projections), then to respond with your views on all aspects of the consultation. If you have something to say that isn't covered by the specific options presented by EDF, then include that in your response. Whether you are an individual with a personal opinion, or an expert in a particular field related to the planned development, or a representative of a local business or organisation, it is important to contribute to the consultation. Whatever is decided now will affect Suffolk Coastal for decades to come.

The deadline for submissions to the consultation is 3rd February 2017. You can respond in a range of ways:

• online at https://edfsizewell.dialoguebydesign.net/default.asp
• by email to info@sizewellc.co.uk
• by post to FREEPOST SZC Consultation
• by telephone (during normal office hours) at 0800 197 6102

Make sure that you have your say.