The UK/Ireland Nuclear Free Local Authorities have joined forces with local campaigners in protesting against the destruction of the local environment around the Sizewell C site now being carried out by developer, EDF.

The Chair of the NFLA Steering Committee, Councillor Lawrence O'Neill has written to the Secretary of State for the Environment, and Felixstowe's Suffolk Coastal MP, Dr Therese Coffey, asking her to intercede to stop the destruction.

The Sizewell C project has yet to receive site approvals from the Office of Nuclear Regulation and the Environment Agency or achieve financial close (the so-called Financial Investment Decision) and the decision by government ministers to give the go-ahead last year is being challenged in the High Court by Together Against Sizewell C in late March.

Despite this, developer EDF has been busy felling ancient trees and destroying wet woodland, in a Protected site of Special Scientific Interest, despite previously promising to only carry out preparatory works that were 'reversible' at this time.

Councillor O'Neill said: "It appears that EDF are playing fast and loose with the word 'reversible'. It is way too early to be carrying out such drastic acts of destruction against the natural environment, such as uprooting irreplaceable ancient trees, when there are still many uncertainties about whether Sizewell C will go ahead and when the plans are still subject to a major legal challenge.

"My hope is that the Secretary of State, who represents this area, will be prepared to publicly speak up as much in defence of the Sizewell environment in her constituency, as she did when recently extolling the culinary merits of the turnip!"

The letter sent to the Secretary of State reads:

The Rt. Hon. Dr Thérèse Coffey MP,

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Mon 27 February 2023

Dear Secretary of State,

I am writing to you as Chair on behalf of the UK/Ireland Nuclear Free Local Authorities to add our voices to those residents local to the proposed Sizewell C nuclear power plant site who are protesting against the wanton vandalism of the natural environment that is being carried out by the developer.

As you are the MP for the Suffolk Coastal constituency, these are also your constituents, so I am sure you will be aware of their grievances, and I urge you to intercede on their behalf.

EDF Energy itself in a statement dated 18 January undertook only to carry out advanced preparatory works that would be 'reversible' prior to the Final Investment Decision, yet it is now embarked on the destruction of wet woodland located in the Sizewell Marshes, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and felling trees, some ancient, on Goose Hill to clear over 40 hectares for a car park.

At present, in addition to awaiting the Final Investment Decision, the project does not yet have a site licence from the Office for Nuclear Regulation or three necessary permits from the Environment Agency. Furthermore, there remains an outstanding legal action as the campaign group, Together Against Sizewell C, are seeking to challenge the approval of the project's Development Consent Order in Judicial Review proceedings scheduled to take place in the High Court on 22nd and 23rd March.

This work will cause enormous and irreversible damage to the environment on East Suffolk's Heritage Coast. Surely then, with the many legal matters outstanding, it is premature for EDF Energy to embark on this work now, and I would ask you and your departmental officials to intercede to prevent it until such time as the application for Judicial Review has been resolved and the FID, permissions and permits have been secured?

Thank you for reading – and I hope acting on – this letter.

Please direct any reply by email to NFLA Secretary Richard Outram at [email protected] 

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Councillor Lawrence O'Neill,

Chair, UK/Ireland NFLA Steering Committee