The Society published a statement on its position with respect to the Sizewell C application for developmnt consent.  this can be found by clicking on the button below.

Some of our members might be interested in this exhibition by local artists to raise funds to campaign for a better solution to bringing wind power ashore.

Please click on the button below to see their reports for August and September (one document).

Scottish Power EA1N and EA2 windfarm projects
Progress in the campaign for a national strategy for onshore infrastructure associated with offshore windfarms: The Government announced in mid-July a review into the offshore transmission network (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/offshore-transmission-network-review).  Many of the East Anglian projects fall into the medium-term category as set out in the review (Medium-term: 2025-2030, those wind farms where a seabed lease has been granted, but no planning permission is in place).  More on this on our website. 
Closer to home: Members will know that the formal planning application ('Development Consent Order) for the two offshore windfarms has been submitted and accepted for detailed examination by the Planning Inspectorate under the procedure for considering major national infrastructure projects. The Planning Inspectorate intends to start the Examination process in September, and it has to be completed within a fixed period of six months. The earlier parts of the process would be conducted virtually.
We have registered the Society as an Interested organisation, giving us the right to submit documents and speak at hearings. We are urging that the process be delayed until physical meetings are again possible to ensure fair hearing of all local views. We are also urging that all 10 major power projects under way in Suffolk be taken fully into account, rather than being examined piecemeal. We are also arguing that the Examination should not be completed until the Government review is published.
Despite our strong opposition and that of many others, virtual hearings of Scottish Power’s applications are going ahead. The first round of Open Floor Hearings (OFH) are to be held from Wednesday 7th to Friday 9th October 2020. Members of the public can be heard and the deadline to ask to be involved is 9 September.
For more information about latest developments: please see  those of the various action groups –
SEAS: https://www.suffolkenergyactionsolutions.co.uk SASES: http://sases.org.uk Anglian Energy Planning Alliance: https://anglianenergyplanningalliance.com
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EDF Sizewell C
​EDF has moved to virtual hearings (again in the face of strong local opposition) and the development consent order (DCO) application is in the pre-examination phase. The public can access the documents and share their views with the Planning Inspectorate. This phase runs until September 30. The application is tens of thousands of pages long and consists of 600-plus documents. For more information on how to access the documents see EDF’s website:
https://www.edfenergy.com/energy/nuclear-new-build-projects/sizewell-c 
We are formulating the Aldeburgh Society’s detailed response. Do get in touch with your thoughts.
In the meantime, East Suffolk Council is holding a free debate on Sizewell C Thursday (3 September). Councillors will not be whipped and if members want to lobby councillors you can do so by 2 September. The Stop Sizewell C website stopsizewellc.org  has more news & information including about their live and virtual meetings planned for 5 and 7 September.

​A small group (including our Treasurer Adrian Brown) has set about improving the closed churchyard to make it more accessible and attractive for visitors and townsfolk.  There are graves in our churchyard going back to the latter part of the 17th century (1680 may be the earliest).  First the brambles and then the small saplings between gravestones will be cleared. The work is costing about £6,000 and is coming from legacies the church has received. After that Norse will keep the churchyard in good condition.
An arborist will next survey trees and make recommendations. This initial survey work will probably be later this year and will cost about £2,000 (again from legacies).  Dealing with the larger trees is really a five to ten year project but once the initial work has been completed the group hope to produce a walking guide to the graveyard so people can see the graves of the famous Aldeburgh residents.  

​Printing and photocopying are available. You can access PCs but must book an appointment with the library. Open for collections and returns. No events or room hire.
https://www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/visit/locations-and-times/aldeburgh-library
The Aldeburgh Library Foundation has announced a safe & cautious return of the ALF Courses see http://www.aldeburghlibraryfoundation.org.uk/ 

Please click on the link to see the latest report from our local District Councillors on what is going on in East Suffolk.
​​july_2020_ward_report_tjhc_jb.docx

The Chair has received a response from the Peninsula Practice to our letter expressing concerns raised by members about  medical provision in Aldeburgh principally caused by the current crisis and the need for infection control. Things seem to be improving and appointments have resumed at the Aldeburgh surgery, Our letter, Dr Crockett’s video and the Practice's response are below along with the recent proposals to do more in Aldeburgh surgery. 

Aldeburgh Society News-
 
The Aldeburgh Society Committee continues to hold meetings (virtually) and continues to monitor and comment on planning applications.
 
We are hoping to hold the AGM at some point but there is no regulatory problem with this being delayed. The annual accounts have been approved by the Committee and are now on our website.
 
We continue to update our members about Aldeburgh Services and information and to direct queries to the Town Council which is working hard to coordinate the response to Covid-19.
 
We corresponded with the Peninsula Practice about medical provision in Aldeburgh. We certainly think things are improving and will continue to improve as the Covid-19 restrictions are gradually removed. The correspondence and Dr Crockett’s video are on the website.
 
We await the decision of the Planning Inspectorate as to if and when it plans to hold virtual hearings into the Scottish Power EA1N and EA2 windfarm projects planning applications. We opposed the idea to move to virtual hearings as unworkable and inappropriate and responded accordingly. 
EDF Sizewell CEDF has gone ahead (despite our objection and that of many others that a delay was needed because of the Covid-19 restrictions) and submitted its application for a development consent order (DCO). We will be formulating the Aldeburgh Society’s detailed response over the next month.
 
Committee Members
We are always looking for new members and people interested in joining our committee so please get in touch if you are interested.
Looking forward:
We will come out of this. We are investigating how we can hold our talks later in the year with social distancing in place. This may involve "virtual lectures". We will be in touch about our plans.
 
Anyone with ideas about potential speakers or with questions, suggestions or ideas should email us on info@aldeburghsociety.org.uk
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