Housing and traffic crisis fears over Hinkley Point nuclear power station proposal
French energy giant EDF must do more to prevent construction of a new nuclear power station bringing traffic chaos, a housing crisis and a “boom and bust” economy, Somerset councils have warned.
Somerset County Council and Sedgemoor District Council revealed their submissions last night as the deadline passed to register interest in the mammoth planning application for the proposed twin-reactor Hinkley C plant.
-
Campaigners from Stop Hinkley at the handover of objections to the Infrastructure Planning Commission in Bristol
The Infrastructure Planning Commission, which will consider the application, has received around 900 registrations of interest, including one from anti-nuclear group Stop Hinkley which delivered its submission to the IPC offices at Temple Quay, Bristol yesterday.
The next step is for the IPC to hold a preliminary meeting to decide how the examination will proceed. It will take some evidence in written form but is also certain to hold some hearings at which individuals and organisations will give verbal evidence.
Somerset County Council says more needs to be done to minimise the problems that creating the biggest construction site in Europe could bring. It also calls for a community mitigation fund larger than the £20 million pot proposed by EDF.
Councillor David Hall, Somerset County Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development, said: “EDF have taken significant steps in the right direction on a number of matters, for example, how they will work with our schools to inspire young people to take up science and engineering, and strategies to introduce new jobs into the county. There is still, however, more work for them to do, especially in terms of highways and transport solutions.
“We continue to support the opportunities Hinkley Point C may bring to the area, but we are disappointed that there are still some significant gaps in the information provided.”
Other concerns include traffic congestion in Bridgwater, an influx of workers causing a house price hike which could add to housing problems, the impact on tourism, disposal of waste and other environmental issues.
Stop Hinkley is concerned that the IPC is not allowing any debate on Nuclear Power in its enquiry. Nikki Clarke, a Stop Hinkley campaigner, said: “In a post Fukushima world, not being able to question the legitimacy of nuclear power is undemocratic.”
The councils will submit more detailed representations on specific topics at a later stage. The county council will also submit a Local Impact Report in collaboration with Sedgemoor and West Somerset councils.
For further information, visit: www.infrastructure.independent.gov.uk
Comments
by tedscribe
Sunday, February 19 2012, 10:08PM
“Nikki Clarke, a Stop Hinkley campaigner, said: "In a post Fukushima world, not being able to question the legitimacy of nuclear power is undemocratic."
I fear that Nikki Clark is a scaremonger. Anyone with an ounce of knowledge about the differences between the Fukushima reactors and the proposed Hinkley Point C reactors and British nuclear power generation will know that this is another entirely red herring that is irrelevant to this proposal and the modern nuclear industry.
Like so much disinformation presented by the Stop Hinkley Group, it is incorrect. This red herring about the Fukushima incident is introduced only to try to scare the population. There is nothing to discuss as this is not relevant, and so certainly has nothing to do with democracy. The green and anti-nuclear opposition are losing the argument and are getting desperate.
The best they can do is to occupy a barn to try to make their argument 'visible' and spread scare stories. Their objective is to cause as many delays and make the planning approval process even more expensive. Nuclear power is the safest industry in the country. Britain needs a mix of nuclear and conventional power to bridge the 'energy gap' so nuclear power stations must be built; end of story.
Felix”