Protesters say they won't stop campaigning as long as Sizewell C is being built
Construction officially started on the nuclear power plant yesterday
Campaigners tell us they will continue to protest against Sizewell C, the nuclear power plant planned for the Suffolk coast, until they are heard.
They were out bright and early yesterday morning, taking part in a peaceful protest, carrying signs with their messages, ahead of the Nuclear and Renewables Minister Andrew Bowie's visits to the power plant.
The Minister took part in an event to trigger the Developmental Consent Order (DCO) and held a symbolic shovel showing they had "broken ground" on the project and that construction had officially started.
The campaign group Stop Sizewell C released a statement that expressed their shock that the demolition has started "when the finance for this deeply flawed project is, by their own admission, still months away."
Many of the campaigners expressed their concerns over the environmental impact, bio-diversity, coastal erosion and cost that will come as a result of this project, along with many other issues.
The Green Party parliamentary candidate for Suffolk Coastal, Julian Cusack, told us: "I will mourn the loss of sites like the Sizewell Marshes, I will morn the lack of access to the coastline while the project is being developed, I will mourn the devastation and mental health problems that will be caused by people in local communities having to put up with the disruption.
"Significant environmental destruction has already taken place, yet there is still so much unknown, including whether the necessary billions of pounds can actually be raised, and from whom.
"It is touch-and-go whether - in these politically uncertain times - this slow, expensive and damaging project can stumble over the line before the election."
Campaigner Sarah Courage added: "Its a major threat.
"Twelve hundred extra vehicles including 700 lorries a day trying to get through here.. nobody would be able to have a normal life anymore.
"Agricultural vehicles won't be able to get from A to B, emergency vehicles will not get anywhere and this is a serious problem."
Sarah Whitelock is a councillor for Aldeburgh and Leiston, where the plant is being built: "One of the main problems is what to do with nuclear waste, which is going to go behind Sizewell C. That waste will go on for thousands of years...
"Sizewell C says they will be employing mainly local people, but they define local as anybody in a 90-minute drive....
"Its impact on Biodiversity is going to be massive, wildlife needs corridors to move up and down the coastline well it won't be able to do that because of this enormous site right in the middle ."
Peter Chadwick is chairman of Save Our Sandlings: "The sandbank off the coast, which has kept the sea a bit at bay, is now beginning to deteriorate. So it's very likely that the sea will come in over the Minsmere marshes and go around the back of the power station...
"This is certainly not green energy... I don't know how many millions of tons of concrete they will use, but that is not green and will cause really heavy pollution."
What do the government and EDF say?
A spokesperson for EDF Energy said:
"Our proposals for Sizewell C will see the creation of a 3.2 gigawatt power station, that will create low-carbon electricity that will supply 6 million homes."
"Delivering clean, reliable, and affordable power for generations"
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Claire Coutinho, said:
"Investing in Sizewell C is an exciting opportunity to be a part of the UK’s nuclear revival - delivering clean, reliable, and affordable power for generations to come.
"This project will create thousands of jobs, power 6 million homes and will boost our energy security.
"We are focused on securing good value for taxpayers and look forward to seeing strong and competitive bids to be a part of this exciting project."