Letter signed by 37 Suffolk councils sent to Government

Paul Richards, chair of Snape Parish Council, has written to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) calling for energy minister Andrew Bowie to make a return visit to the county and 'substantively engage with elected representatives'.

The councils are particularly concerned about the impact of the planned new Sizewell C nuclear power station and National Grid infrastructure projects to route power cables from offshore wind farms across the countryside.

READ MORE: Energy minister Andrew Bowie in visit to Suffolk projects

Mr Bowie visited Suffolk in May when he met representatives of Sizewell C and some of the project's opponents.

However, in the letter, seen by the EADT, Mr Richards said the majority of town and parish councils had been 'excluded' from the opportunity to meet him during his May visit.

He said: "We are writing to express our collective disappointment that you have not yet returned to Suffolk since your fleeting visit in May, when the majority of town and parish councils were excluded from the opportunity to meet with you about the cumulative impacts of the many nationally significant energy projects proposed for our area."

Concerns have been raised about cables bringing power on shore from wind farms (Image: chpv.co.uk)READ MORE: Energy minister hears Suffolk wind farm cable concerns

Officials at the DESNZ had only been able to say that they were 'looking for opportunities' to return 'in the coming months,' he added.

"Meanwhile, there is growing alarm at the scale and damage National Grid infrastructure plans would wreak on the area when we know better alternatives exist that have yet to be fully evaluated by NG and DESNZ and the government continues to advance towards construction of Sizewell C.

"We urge you to make your return visit to east Suffolk a very high priority and make good your commitment to substantively engage with elected representatives across the area," Mr Richards said.

READ MORE: Suffolk news

The full list of parish and town councils that have signed the letter includes:

Aldeburgh, Aldringham-cum-Thorpe, Barsham & Shipmeadow, Bawdsey, Blythburgh, Bromeswell, Campsea Ashe, Charsfield, Chillesford, Clopton, Corton, Darsham, Dunwich, Easton, Farnham with Stratford St Andrew, Friston, Henstead with Hulver Street, Kelsale-cum-Carlton, Leiston-cum-Sizewell, Marlesford, Middleton-cum-Fordley, Peasenhall, Rendham, Rendlesham, Reydon, Ringsfield & Weston, Saxmundham, Southwold, Snape, Sudbourne, Sutton, Theberton & Eastbridge, Walberswick, Westerfield, Westleton, Wickham Market and Woodbridge.

National Grid did not wish to comment about the letter.

The EADT has also approached both Sizewell C and the DESNZ....