'Sizewell workers don't need to wear uniforms to buy a sandwich'

Sizewell C has "absolutely not" told workers to avoid a town centre but suggested they "probably" did not need to wear their uniforms when buying a sandwich, a manager said.

Marjorie Barnes, the head of community relations at the nuclear power station in Suffolk, denied workers had been told to avoid Leiston after the town's cafe owners said there had been a fall in the number of constructors using their services.

Frank Newsome, who owns Rosie's Coffee Lounge, said his takings had dropped by 40% since April, while Joanne Stanners, who runs Darlings Cafe, said she feared having to close due to poor trade.

The BBC understands advice was given to workers about wearing high-visibility uniforms while using the town's facilities and driving HGVs during rush hour.

"We're working very closely with local councils to ensure the town thrives," Barnes said.

When asked whether the workers had been asked to change into "civvies" to use the town's services, she said it was "respectful not to go into local businesses in muddy PPE [personal protective equipment]".

"Our construction workforce are wearing PPE to protect them whilst they're carrying out their work on a site, and that's really important," Barnes said.

"Do they need to be wearing their PPE when they come in to get a sandwich? Probably not.

"But looking around the town today, you'll see the workforce using local businesses - the cafes and the supermarket."

Sizewell C clarified its position after business owners in the town feared workers were staying away due to some residents reportedly having complained about them.

Newsome and his wife Frances said they had "invested heavily" to create their cafe in the area in the hope of cashing-in on the thousands of workers who will work on the construction of the power plant.

"We were gradually building it up to where we wanted to be, and then in April takings dropped by literally 40% week-on-week and it's still dropping now," he said.

"We fell off a cliff and the word on the street was some of the locals felt intimidated by these Sizewell guys in their hi-vis stuff.

"[But they are] hard-working lads who are earning good money and they want to enjoy it."

Stanners opened Darlings Cafe in February and after having her most successful month of trading in May, said she had recently struggled to make any money.

"Some days I've not made a penny - literally nobody's come through the doors," she said.

"We've had people tell us [the workers] are supposed to get changed out of their oranges before they come in this town because locals are complaining.

"We don't know what to do because the Sizewell boys and girls are absolutely amazing - I've got no complaints with any of them."

Stanners added that if trade did not picked up within the next two weeks she would have no choice but to close the cafe.

"I am plummeted in debt and I can't continue the way we're going now," she said.

"If we could have more [from] Sizewell in I wouldn't be closing."

Sizewell C is a £38bn power station that will reportedly provide energy for about six million homes for 60 years after it has been completed in the mid-to-late 2030s.

At the height of construction about 2,600 of the 7,900 on-site workforce is expected to come from East Anglia.

Nicky Corbett, the mayor of Leiston-cum-Sizewell, said seeing workers wearing uniforms in the town was not a problem for the majority of people.

"Those guys are everybody else's neighbours - they're just like you and I, it's just the uniform they wear to work," she said.

"It would be nicer perhaps if they were to take the PPE off before they went into the local shops.

"But, they've had a hard day at work, they're getting their supper on the way home... Most of us really don't mind at all."

Corbett went on to add that the High Street was "a tough place at the moment" for towns across the UK, not just Leiston, but "sympathised" with business owners.

She said the town was "on the cusp of a very exciting time", but stressed that support was available for businesses that perhaps felt otherwise.

"If they're struggling, if they need help or advice, there are places they can turn to," she said.

Additional reporting by George King

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