Dear Sea Link team. As the elected representative of residents in the area close to the site of your planned converter station, I wish to feed back my concerns about the following issues: • Increased height of the converter station, which is now proposed to be 28 metres. No visual representation of this, and its impact on the landscape as viewed from Minster or any other local vantage points has been provided. • Damage to soil structure from the use of open cable trenches, and impact on the unique marshland habitat and wildlife species. By the nature of the marshland site, it will be necessary to increase the ground height by two metres and to add 20 metre concrete pillars to stabilise it – a clear indication that the site is unsuitable for this use. • It also prompts the question of the many tonnes of aggregate which will be required – where will this be sourced from, will it be free of any contaminants and what will be the impact of runoff through this aggregate, on the hydrology of the marshland, ground water, Minster Stream and River Stour. • I welcome the reduced height and revised location of the pylons in recognition of the threat to birds, but this is an important breeding area, including for endangered species. We therefore need clearer plans for mitigation measures, including for the pylons themselves such as nesting platforms for peregrines, ravens and other birds. • I am glad to see that the former hoverport site will not be made available to National Grid, because this RAMSAR site and National Nature Reserve now features rare flora such as endangered bee and lizard orchids, and is important for over-wintering and migratory birds. Your sincerely, Cllr Abi Smith, Thanet Villages

Dear Cllr Abi Smith Thank you for your email. The proposed application for the Sea Link Project is currently at the Pre-application stage of the Planning Act 2008 process. Further information about the process can be found in the link below to the National Infrastructure Planning website: The stages of the NSIP process and how you can have your say. The Planning Inspectorate is unable to consider representations about the merits of any application until it has been submitted and accepted for Examination. We note that you have also sent your email to the developer of the proposed project (National Grid). As the application has not yet been formally submitted to the Planning Inspectorate any comments concerning the merits of the proposed development should be submitted directly to them: Email: [email protected] Telephone: 0808 134 9569 Post: Freepost SEA LINK It is important that the developer is made aware of your comments at the Pre-application stage to enable them to consider the points raised before finalising their proposals and submitting the application. Should the application be accepted for Examination you will be able to register as an Interested Party by submitting a relevant representation. This must be submitted on the ‘Registration and Relevant Representation form’ which will be made available on the project webpage of the National Infrastructure Planning website at the appropriate time. Further information about registering as an Interested Party can be found in the Planning Inspectorate’s ‘Advice Note: Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects: How to register to have your say and make a relevant representation - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) You may also find it helpful to subscribe to us to receive email notifications for key events that occur after an application has been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate. This can be done by selecting ‘Get Updates’ on the Planning Inspectorate’s project webpage and then entering your email address: Sea Link - Project information (planninginspectorate.gov.uk). Kind regards