18th July 2018 – Meeting with David Walker (Director – Offshore Development) 
Joanna Young (Stakeholder Manager) Scottish Power Renewables
We fed back the communities anger about Scottish Power Renewables failure to effectively publicise Phase 2 consultation and Public Information Days (PID) to ‘The Parish of Friston’ & Friston residents. 

We explained the concerns of communities and Scottish Power Renewables numerous failures in Phase 1&2 consultation, including:

• Apparent failure to provide adequate evidence that they, ‘SPR’, have done everything they possibly can to work with EDF to try and locate at Sizewell. 
  – David Walker said extensive talks had taken place but EDF needed the land.
• Why were the easterly Zones in the AONB discounted, as most were not outstandingly beautiful or significant.
  – They were not considered suitable due to being AONB, referred to National Planning Framework. 
• Why they had not taken onboard joint views of both Local Authorities to locate close to the coast at Sizewell. 
  – Sizewell land issue and AONB. 
• The failure to mention ANY requirement for onshore industrial development (large onshore industrial substations) in the SoCC advertisements for PIDs (Public Information Day Advert) for Phase 2 Consultation.
  – No adequate explanation provided.
• A failure to provide at least one Phase 2 Consultation PID in Friston or Knoddishall, communities most effected by the 3 westerly appraisal zones. SPR only gave a short presentation to Friston Parish Council (05/03/17) twelve days before the first Phase 2 PID.
  – No adequate explanation provided as to why they held no PIDs in either Friston or Knoddishall. 
• The failure to contact Friston residents in early stage consultation (prior to March 2018). 
  – Unsatisfactory response that local authorities had a responsibility to inform communities in early consultation. 
• Misinformation to Friston Parish Council about the appraisal Zones. When SPR finally met with Friston Parish council in March 2018 SPR gave the impression the preferable location for substation/s was to the east near the coast. In fact it now seems clear SPR were actually focusing on a westerly location.
   – No satisfactory explanation provided. Only than SPR had identified a suitable location for an Aldeburgh road crossing at Aldringham.   
• Failure to provide associated background information & documentation referred to in RAG Assessments (requested by numerous people in Friston and elsewhere).
  -There is associated documentation, they would try and get it to us.
• SPR were asked about economic benefit, SASES pushed the point that economic benefit was negative to Friston and the wider community.
  – SPR conceded that specialised surveying and substation construction would be completed by specialist contractors, not local, and agreed that Substations were unmanned once built and connected. 
• SPR were asked about the type and design of substation. What would it look like, how big, how many buildings, what equipment. 
  – No information or decisions were available at this time, it will follow in the full impact assessment documents. David Walker said there were various options for buildings, cladding etc. trees could be planted for screening. 
• The action group highlighted the concerns of property owners along the cable route – specifically the feeling SPRs contractors were using what could be viewed as ‘bullying tactics’ to get permission to gain access to properties and land. 
  – David Walker did agree that this was unacceptable.