Walberswick Residents Face Possible Evacuation Amid LionLink Drilling Concerns

Walberswick villagers face possible evacuation for up to eight days due to drilling noise from the LionLink offshore wind cable project, sparking concerns over disruption, wildlife impact, and local businesses despite National Grid's reassurances.

Potential Evacuation and Drilling Noise in Walberswick

Residents of the coastal village of Walberswick in Suffolk have been informed they may need to evacuate their homes for up to eight days due to drilling noise associated with the installation of new cables nearby. The announcement came during a council meeting on Tuesday, where it was revealed that the LionLink project could cause weeks of drilling and vibrations affecting the village.

Walberswick is known as an idyllic location and a celebrity haven, home to film director Richard Curtis and broadcaster Emma Freud. Author Esther Freud is also believed to have a residence nearby, and other celebrities such as Keira Knightley and Ed Sheeran have been spotted in the area.

National Grid Ventures, responsible for the LionLink project, has attempted to reassure residents by stating that they do not expect any need for relocation. However, villagers remain unconvinced by these assurances.

The LionLink Project and Its Impact

The LionLink project aims to transmit electricity generated by an offshore wind farm to both the UK and the Netherlands. The cables are planned to make landfall at Walberswick, near Stocks Lane, necessitating drilling operations that may continue overnight.

David Riches, a resident of Walberswick for five years and a member of the Walberswick Against LionLink campaign group, expressed strong opposition to the project.

"We're absolutely appalled," he said. "You cannot have a major drilling rig going out to sea, which we understand has to work 24 hours a day, coming out so close to the centre of a village. There's no precedent for it anywhere. We're talking about a major, major piece of infrastructure being forced into somewhere which is totally inappropriate."

Regarding the possibility of evacuation, Riches stated:

"I'm horrified. It's going to be intolerable. Let alone the vibration, the dust. It's the effect on the wildlife and the beautiful natural Site of Special Scientific Interest-protected environment, which we thought was sacrosanct."

Vikki Irwin/BBC David Riches in a blue overall over a checked brown shirt wears glasses. He has a beard. He is standing in front of a wooden garage with a bicycle behind him. — David Riches is from the Walberswick Against LionLink campaign group and is worried the works will be "intolerable"

Clare Thomas, who has also lived in Walberswick for five years, believes the estimate of eight days for evacuation may be understated.

"We are surrounded by people's houses with a lot of elderly people. We have two shops, we have two pubs, we have gift shops. If these close, it's going to be devastating for the village. So it's not just people's wellbeing and being able to sleep at night, it's the whole livelihood of the village."

Thomas, a supporter of Greenpeace, emphasized her commitment to green energy despite her opposition to the project’s proximity.

Vikki Irwin/BBC Clare Thomas is smiling. She is standing outside a cafe with a wooden bench to her right that goes around a tree. She is wearing a grey coat and a maroon top underneath. — Clare Thomas is opposed to the proximity of the LionLink cables, despite her support of green energy

Robin McLean, owner of a shop and tearoom in Walberswick, expressed concern about the drilling’s impact on his business, especially outside the holiday season.

"Anything that is going to discourage people from coming to Walberswick is going to make a big dent in our business," he said. "If it's a grey day in November and people have to go through all these roadworks into an industrial landscape, past the drilling of the boreholes and then find themselves on the beach with a constant hum of machinery behind them, it's not so enticing."

Vikki Irwin/BBC Robin McLean stands in front of his blue shop sign for The Parish Lantern gift shop and tearoom. He has grey hair, a dark blue cardigan and a light blue open-necked shirt. — Robin McLean is worried construction projects will "discourage" visitors to the area

Reggie Oliver, a resident near Saxmundham who frequently visits Walberswick, sympathizes with the villagers and is concerned about increased traffic due to the project.

"It's quite alarming. It seems to be all change around here and I just want it to end because one's constantly finding that roads around here have been blocked up and you have to go all around the houses to find your way back to home."

Vikki Irwin/BBC Reggie Oliver wears a tweed coat, a blue scarf and a tweed flat cap. He sits in front of a shop on a bench. He has glasses around his neck and a white beard — Reggie Oliver lives near Saxmundham and is not happy about the traffic disruption locally

Ian Collins from nearby Southwold expressed relief that the pipeline will bypass his area but sympathized with Walberswick residents.

"We're really sorry for Walberswick. They're actually turning people against alternative energy and we all need to support it. But this is a real blunderbuss."

Regarding the prospect of evacuation, Collins said:

"It's actually outrageous. And it's such a peaceful part of the world and it's not just for locals because people come here for the peace and quiet and these wonderful views. Having to evacuate your house? This is like World War Two!"

Vikki Irwin/BBC Man with grey hair stands in the village on a street corner with a brick wall to the side and a black coloured house behind. He wears a denim jacket and the sun is shining on his face. There is a blue sky and telegraph poles behind him — Ian Collins from Southwold has sympathy for his neighbours in Walberswick

Council Response and National Grid’s Position

At the Suffolk County Council cabinet meeting on Tuesday, councillors unanimously agreed to object to the LionLink project. Conservative councillor Richard Rout, the council's lead for major infrastructure projects, reported that National Grid had informed them of seven or eight continuous days of drilling.

"LionLink are saying it may very well be best for residents in the area to be displaced and stay somewhere else during that period," Rout said. "This just points to the fact that this is the wrong place for the project to come ashore."

In response, a National Grid spokesperson stated:

"We recognise the concerns raised in relation to potential disturbance and based on our current assessments, we do not expect residents to need to relocate as a result of activity at the landfall."

The spokesperson added that "final construction methods" and working hours were still under development and that a consultation period inviting residents’ views remains open until 10 March.

"We are committed to putting the necessary mitigation measures in place to manage any noise impacts on residents," the spokesperson said.

Project Details and Public Consultation

The cables will connect to a converter station covering six hectares (15 acres) near Saxmundham. Gareth Burden, the construction director for National Grid, stated at a recent public consultation event in Suffolk that 84% of LionLink's infrastructure is offshore.