Government minister to return to Suffolk following letter

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has confirmed that energy minister Andrew Bowie will be coming to the county in November following a previous visit in May when he met representatives of Sizewell C and opponents of the planned new nuclear power station.

This week, the EADT reported how Paul Richards, chair of Snape Parish Council, had written to the DESNZ calling for Mr Bowie to 'substantively engage with elected representatives'.

READ MORE: Letter signed by 37 Suffolk councils sent to Government

The letter, sent on behalf of town and parish councils, said the majority of these local authorities had been 'excluded' from meeting the minister during his May visit.

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.

"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: Energy minister Andrew Bowie in visit to Suffolk projects

On Thursday, Snape parish councillor Tim Beach, who helped draft the letter, said although he had not heard about the return visit, he was pleased with the news.

He said: "While we have not had a visit confirmed as yet, we would welcome it at any time."

A spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: "Sizewell C is a significant part of the revival of nuclear energy in this country – providing clean, home-grown power to millions of homes, thousands of jobs and ending reliance on foreign electricity to bolster our energy security.

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 “We are listening to and working with local communities and councils as we develop the project and other proposed electricity generation projects in the East of England.”

READ MORE: Suffolk news