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Cannington villagers' uproar over Hinkley plans

10:26am Monday 21st December 2009 in Somerset By David Hemming

Cannington villagers' uproar over Hinkley plans Cannington villagers' uproar over Hinkley plans

CAMPAIGNERS in Cannington are calling on EDF Energy to scrap its infrastructure plans for the new power plant at Hinkley Point before their village is “destroyed”.

The Save Cannington Action Group, headed by nuclear expert and villager Alan Beasley, claims the firm's proposals are “immature”, and will make the lives of local people a “misery”.

EDF plans to build two new bypasses either side of Cannington, as well as a 200-bed campus, a park and ride scheme, freight handling facilities, and a college recreation area in the village.

Former senior nuclear consultant Mr Beasley, 66, said: “The proposals will destroy the material fabric of the village - noise, dust and light pollution around the clock will be intolerable.”

He added: “The EDF proposal as it stands must be scrapped and a fresh review undertaken.”

Mr Beasley also fears a rat-run will be created through housing estates in Wembdon, Enmore, Spaxton and Charlinch if the A39 west of Bridgwater is used for vehicle access to the new plant.

He insists the action group is non-political, and not anti-nuclear, and its supporters, who all have links with the nuclear industry, would be willing to work with EDF to reach a solution.

EDF says it meets regularly with Cannington Parish Council and has discussed the plans with villagers. The firm has also invited Mr Beasley to go over the project in detail.

EDF is holding a public consultation until January when the feedback will be used to help prepare the next phase of the project, before further consultation takes place between March and May.

An exhibition will be held at Cannington village hall on Tuesday, January 5, from 10am to give visitors the chance to look at the proposals again.

Comments(5)

BlackKnight_UK says...
10:48am Mon 21 Dec 09

We've all seen the signs, the A39 west of Bridgwater is clearly marked as a Red route because of the amount of accidents on it.
The more traffic that has to use the road the worse this is going to get.
I believe there are other plans to build the campus near Dunball, which would make much more sense as its just off the M5.
A new road could be built from Dunball to join up with the Hinkley Point road somewhere north of Cannington which would mean none of the extra traffic would have to go anywhere near Bridgwater as well as Cannington.

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Migwell says...
4:18pm Mon 21 Dec 09

It seems to me that there has been a complete lack of foresight on the part of EDF during the whole planning process. The volume of heavy loads proposed to go on the Bridgwater-Canningto
n is completely untenable. It is an accident blackspot as it is. A northern route makes sense not only for western Bridgwater and Cannington, but also for any further expansion (a D station?) at the Hinkley site.

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NRG says...
9:44am Tue 22 Dec 09

Oh dear as soon as I see the name Alan Beasley in an article relating to nuclear it fills me with dismay, this I presume is the same person who is a LIB DEM councillor whos party are totally anti nuclear yet states he is not...hmmm opposition by stealth I see but this time use the infrastructure argument instead. I agree that Cannington needs representation with any proposed plans for alteration just be careful who is your spokes person. Correct me if I,m wrong but didnt Cannington object to the bypass taking potential visitors away from the village and ruining its businesses yet when workers from Hinkley park outside shops are lambasted for having the audacity to do so even to the degree that Police and the Station director became involved. What do you really want? pray tell.

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BlackKnight_UK says...
12:41pm Tue 29 Dec 09

FAO NRG!
If you'd actually been to Cannington since the bypass was built you would know that the residents were right in their concerns about the bypass as both general stores have now closed down.

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Sid_Lexia says...
1:28pm Wed 30 Dec 09

The proposed construction workers hostel, park & ride and freight transfer facility on the outskirts of our village will cause social problems, noise & light pollution. The intention is to substantially increase the village population and the majority of workers will be single men who will work hard and no doubt play hard as well as undisciplined. We will be turned into a “Frontier Town” for at least 10 years, and left with the legacy of the spoils. The proposed by-passes will not suffice as the increased heavy plant and incoming traffic will have to go through Bridgwater. A by-pass from Dunball to the existing Hinkley Point road is the only option. Last summer we endured the traffic problems with the bridge closure on the NDR by Chilton School. Hinkley traffic will snarl Bridgwater right up. The sites as suggested are on green belt land. There are 3 existing redundant ex-industrial sites in Bridgwater that would serve the purpose. The old BCL site would be ideally situated.
Alex Reed Cannington

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