In depth: Hinkley Point C proposals

Currently Hinkley Point has got one power station in operation

A new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point has far-reaching consequences for residents in Somerset.

Protest groups are fearful of the risks like leaks and radiation levels from the proposed repository and reactors.

Local councils, however, see it as an opportunity for new jobs and the chance of major investment.

And the government says it is a way of tackling climate change and giving the country 'security of supply' and making Britain more energy self-sufficient.

Outline of the plans

Stage one of the public consultation by EDF Energy, the company which would build the reactor should it be approved, is set to begin on 16 November 2009.

It covers the associated works necessary to support a nuclear power station, like the roads and managing the transport of goods.

Some of the plans look at:

• Traffic management, which could include a bypass for Cannington, park and ride facilities, traffic calming and other road improvements
• Managing the transport of goods, which could include a temporary jetty at Hinkley Point, flood defence works, and upgrading Combwich Wharf, freight consolidation centres, site security

The next stage of the consultation is set to begin in March 2010 and will run until May 2010. This will be a honed down version of the current proposal which will take into account public feedback.

Stop Hinkley's view

The protest group Stop Hinkley has long campaigned against nuclear power in Somerset, on grounds that it is not cheap and is unsafe. They also believe that radioactive pollution has increased cancer deaths from Minehead to Burnham.

The group is also highlighting the fact that the new generation of power stations will store nuclear waste on site until a permanent repository is found - and this is an unknown length of time and, could potentially according to the group, take decades.

David Taylor, from Stop Hinkley, said: "It is a major concern. Of course the waste is more toxic than the waste we had before. It's going to be very long lived, and how can we contain nuclear waste safely over that period of time - 160 years?

"The technology doesn't yet exist and the reason they want to store it here is because they haven't yet found anyone in Britain willing to host a national repository."

Sedgemoor District Council's view

A new nuclear power station will have a direct effect on people living in the West Somerset and Sedgemoor district council areas and on the county as a whole.

The main concern voiced by Sedgemoor District Council is the risks associated with storing nuclear waste, and how well those risks would be minimised by EDF.

Kerry Rickards, chief executive at the council, said: "They've got to make sure they've covered the storage angle. They deem that as temporary storage but temporary in nuclear terms is 70 - 80 years.

"We, as a council, along with West Somerset [and] our colleagues at the county council, will be making sure that the contractor and government are aware that this is an increased risk for our communities and as such the communities need to get some benefit out of that."

Mr Rickards believes the council could receive a pay-off in the region of £10m, as well as £1.5m a year for incurring the risks of having a nuclear power station in the county. He was basing these estimates from the sums received by Copeland Borough Council in Cumbria about 18 months ago.

"We maintain the same view. There is a risk having a nuclear power station on your doorstep. We think we should be attracting many million pounds on the back of that.

"We are in very intense discussions with EDF to make sure there is a process set up and that we do attract many millions of pounds to assist us to set up a whole system of community projects.

"We will be pushing very hard to make sure we get the right deal for our area."

EDF's view

EDF Energy says the new nuclear power station, if built, will create up to 4,000 jobs during the construction and then up to 700 jobs for the next 60 years while the station is in operation.

The company says the new site would generate about six percent of Britain's energy needs, which is the equivalent of around powering 5m homes.

In response to concerns raised by Stop Hinkley and Sedgemoor District Council, the head of nuclear policy, Nigel Knee, said: "For any new power station any spent fuel will be stored on the power station site until a national repository is available.

"That's no different to what happens now with our with our Sizewell B power station in Suffolk which is the same sort of power station we are proposing at Hinkley Point.

"We're confident that we have the technology to store it safely as long as it needs to be until a national underground repository is available."

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What do you think about plans for a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point?

I have only just moved here from Middlesex, and I never would have come here had I have known about this. Our local searches turned up nothing about the existing power plant not to mention the possibility of a new one! What guarantees to residents have that some of the compensation money will come to them and not just go to the local councils? What guarantee is there that these jobs will benefit local residents and not be filled by people brought in from afar and abroad? I would like to take part in any meetings going on against this new build, please let me know times and dates! People come to this area to retire not to become affected by nuclear waste!
Thomas Hall, Minehead

The UK, and the world, urgently needs all the low or no carbon energy sources it can get. I am an advocate for all sustainable energy resources - including energy saving of course. Energy companies will seek the best solutions which include wind turbines, solar power and nuclear. They are best suited to large scale solutions (nuclear, clean coal + carbon capture, large scale desert solar) - communities and individuals can play their part on the smaller scale opportunities. There is no simple - or single solution, so let's just get on with the job, together.
Richard Hellen, Dursley, UK

There is no 'silver bullet' to the issue of meeting the ever-increasing demand for energy. What is needed is a balanced view of the issues and a balance in the use of the available technologies. I work in the nuclear industry so I guess it's no surprise that am I in favour of new nuclear build *BUT* I am also in favour of investment in other low carbon emission technologies. Each technology has their pros and cons, but what is absolutely vital is that we produce electricity safely whilst not increasing our carbon emissions. At this point in time, like it not, nuclear is clearly at the fore.
Pete Caldwell, Taunton, Somerset

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