Campaigners on plans for new undersea cable linking Suffolk and Kent: 'a man-made disaster'
The National Grid says Sea Link is needed to help the UK get to net-zero - although campaigners worry about the impact on the landscape
Campaigners in Suffolk say a plan to link the county with Kent - via an undersea cable - is 'a man made disaster in a beautiful rural county'.
The National Grid's Sea Link project would see the link brought ashore near Leiston - with a substation and a converter station built to help transfer energy from offshore wind.
Fiona Gilmore is a campaigner with Suffolk Energy Action Solutions - she thinks the entire thing should go offshore: "In terms of energy security, an off-shore grid, if you bring it through different sub-sea cables, you can protect it more easily...
"This project would industrialise one of the most deeply rural countryside areas in the country.
"You're talking about changing its personality for ever - this is permanent."
She tells us the plans could put the county's beaches at risk: "We all love our beaches. They are unspoilt and stunning beautiful. "This is a big existential threat - it's a man made disaster that would cause catastrophic destruction...
"It's extraordinary plundering of our countryside. It's incredible these plans are even being contemplated...
"Our tourism economy is at stake."
What are the plans?
A consultation has opened on plans for a new undersea electricity cable linking Suffolk and Kent.
National Grid claims Sea Link is an important part of its strategy to get the UK to net-zero by 2050.
It also needs to boost capacity across the region to carry renewable energy from windfarms in the North Sea off the coasts of Suffolk and Norfolk, as well as the nuclear power produced by Sizewell C.
The current proposals inlcuded It would also involve creating a sub station in Friston, as well as a large converter station near Saxmundham.
That's something which has concerned local campaigners, who fear it could damage a sensitive part of the Suffolk Coast.
Adrian Pierssene, Project Director for Sea Link, commented: “This reinforcement between Suffolk and Kent is essential in the UK’s journey to net zero by 2050 and is part of a wider programme to upgrade the entire network.
"We look forward to hearing views from members of the public and we welcome feedback on our proposals.”
"The impact of the Sea Link proposals on local communities should not be underestimated"
Councillor Richard Rout, Suffolk County Council’s deputy leader, said:
“We have been raising our concerns at the highest level, stressing that all these energy projects off Suffolk’s coast need to be aligned to reduce their impact on the county. The coordination of cabling, landing points and construction is essential – anything short of this, we find unacceptable.
“The impact of the Sea Link proposals on local communities should not be underestimated, which would see miles of underground cabling, landfall on our coastline and a large converter station built near Saxmundham, which would be taller than the iconic House in the Clouds in nearby Thorpeness.
“We support the government’s drive for energy security, but will not stand for the bare minimum mitigations that developers can apply to projects of this scale, which show little consideration for local communities.
“I would urge local residents and businesses to join us in sharing their worries and concerns about the coordination of these projects, and the potential impacts of Sea Link on the local landscape and natural environment.”
Events are due to be held in Aldeburgh, Leiston and Saxmundam, Snape and Friston so locals can see the plans.
You can find out more about Sea Link here.