Bridgwater is to be given a £2bn investment guarantee by the Government to secure the construction of the new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point.

The Chancellor George Osborne said the Government will back the deal which sees the Chinese Government invest in Hinkley C following the stalling of EDF’s input into the scheme due to financial issues.

On a visit to the Asian super power the Chancellor also said there could be further collaboration with the one-party Communist state in the building of future power stations in the UK.

The project to construct the power station has been hit by delays with French firm EDF struggling to come up with more cash, technical problems with the design of the chosen reactor and a dip in the world economy. It means the station will not produce electricity until after 2023, with no guarantee as yet from EDF that the project is back on track.

Somerset’s £24.5bn power station would be Britain's first new nuclear plant for 20 years and is expected to provide power for about 60 years and up to seven percent of Britain's electricity needs.

However EDF will continue to control the venture despite the Government and the Chinese adding financial muscle as they have been guaranteed a minimum price of £89.50 per MW hour for 35 years. It’s a figure and a deal that has been slammed by opponents of nuclear energy.

Greenpeace's Dr Doug Parr said the £2bn guarantee from George Osborne was "signing up the country for the ultimate rip-off deal".

He said: "Instead of locking two generations of UK consumers into paying billions to foreign state-owned firms, Osborne should invest in the flexible, smart, and truly clean energy system that can power a 21st Century Britain without leaving a pile of radioactive waste as legacy."

Other critics include West Somerset Green Party and the Stop Hinkley Group who believe the cash should be ploughed into renewable and safer forms of energy such as wave, water, wind and sun power.

However many local politicians have backed the plans as it has meant a huge investment in roads, schools, houses, apprenticeships and jobs in the area. The MP for Bridgwater Iain Liddell-Grainger has declared the town to be “Hinkley ready” saying “it’s all systems go” once the decision to finally build is made.

There has been speculation that the French and Chinese heads of state will visit Bridgwater in October to seal the deal. Mr Liddell-Grainger said it was unlikely they would arrive by car due to security concerns and thought it would be unlikely they would visit Hinkley with David Cameron but admitted that “nothing could be ruled out.”