A Sizewell C boss has come under fire for meeting local business leaders but failing as yet to take up an invitation to see campaigning groups at the site of the proposed nuclear power station.
EDF Energy chief executive Simone Rossi is addressing Suffolk Chamber of Commerce members at their annual general meeting in Ipswich on Friday, June 29.
But Theberton and Eastbridge Action Group on Sizewell (TEAGS), Minsmere Levels Stakeholder Group (MLSG) and the B1122 Action Group said he should show his commitment to community engagement and meet with them too.
“Despite being in post for eight months and speaking about Sizewell regularly to the national media, Simone Rossi appears surprisingly reluctant to visit us,” said Paul Collins of TEAGS and MLSG. “If EDF really wants to show its commitment to engagement, Simone Rossi will make it a priority to come and meet the community that is on the frontline of Sizewell C and D and that will suffer a cumulative and disproportionate impact during construction. He owes it to the people of east Suffolk to come and hear our concerns face to face and ensure that EDF meets its stated obligations before the next round of consultation.”
Charles Macdowell of the B1122 Action Group said the views of local people and groups were “not being taken seriously”. “We have a great many concerns,” he said. “Unless significant changes are made, we will have to conclude that EDF’s consultation process is purely symbolic and that the company has never had any intention of addressing local concerns.”
TEAGS said it had invited Mr Rossi to visit the communities last year. But Jim Crawford, Sizewell C project development director, said he had met with members of TEAGs in the Sizewell C office in May. “We took time to discuss all the points they were keen to cover and have offered a follow up meeting, whenever they are ready, with me and the team responsible for delivering the project. We are also going to organise a visit for the group to see Hinkley Point C, in Somerset, as they said this woud be helpful.”
The firm was committed to meet and keep open communications with a wide variety of local organisations, he said, and the Leiston office was open to those wanting to discuss the plans.
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