A RALLYING call has gone out to opponents of a proposed new road to enable the construction of new T pylons connecting to Hinkley C.

East Huntspill Parish Council is fighting the road, which National Grid proposes to build to allow HGVs to access the site.

An emergency meeting has been called by the council in the church hall on Friday, July 10, at 8.15pm, ahead of the planning inspectorate deadline of next Monday.

The proposal includes extended Factory Lane along the old railway line to the new T pylon route, with HGVs using it from the A38 via Watchfield, every 15 minutes, seven days a week, during construction.

It would also allow vehicles to access the building of the pylons for up to five years afterwards.

The parish council and many residents feel that the area is already at capacity for HGVs and any increase would have a huge impact on safety, wellbeing and the environment.

Somerset County Council are recommending accepting the proposals, claiming risk assessments, research and analysis have shown it to be an appropriate development.

But parish councillors claim they have not been consulted and have not seen the evidence supporting the plans.

National Grid says there are no “viable alternatives”, but suggest installing double yellow lines to improve safety – which has angered villagers as they say it would remove parking spaces outside their homes.

County councillor David Fothergill has said: “Alternative access arrangements to the use of Factory Lane have been considered... but discounted on safety, environmental and economic grounds."

Parish councillor Nigel Litton said: "The National Grid company should not be allowed to dictate their views and cause considerable inconvenience to people who live and work in this area."