TOWN councillors have vowed to make themselves heard over the “tremendous impact” a third nuclear power station could have on the Burnham and Highbridge area.

French energy giant EDF's much-publicised bid for the Hinkley Point C plant has prompted local councillors to call on the firm to rethink some of its proposals.

At a Burnham and Highbridge Town Council policy and finance committee meeting last night, Cllr Neville Jones, a member of the Hinkley Point stakeholders committee, said: “The development could have a tremendous effect, both good and bad, on tourism.

“This council has already asked for a park and ride scheme at junction 22, which is now going through the sausage machine, but there are so many other things.

“EDF are not looking seriously at transporting human beings by water and river.

“Sedgemoor District Council has spent £18,000 on doing up the wharf here and we should be taking greater advantage of it.

“We should see what this town can get out of it as somewhere people can leave their cycles and get on a bus to Hinkley Point.”

Cllr Ken Smout raised concerns that large numbers of workers would be brought over from Europe, instead of using local labour.

Cllr Eric Gill added: “EDF keeps saying it will listen so if we shout loud enough we may be heard.”

EDF says it will carefully consider all views as part of its ongoing phase two consultation, which ends on October 4.

Burnham and Highbridge Town Council is now planning to set up a working party to consider its input on the Hinkley C proposals.