A LONG-awaited roundabout at the Washford Cross accident blackspot on the A39 could be built as part of EDF's revised plans for the development of Hinkley Point C.

The power giant said it had listened to local people and withdrawn plans to site a 328-space park and ride facility on a greenfield site close to Mamsey House in Williton.

Instead, a smaller 160-space park and ride is now proposed at the Smithyard Terminal, known locally as the lorry park, off the B3190 close to Five Bells.

And that brings with it a pledge to build a new roundabout on the A39 outside Tropiquaria Zoo "to address existing safety concerns and cater for the additional traffic".

Stogursey residents are also being promised road improvements at Clayland Corner, Cannington will get a bypass and traffic calming measures, while the C182 service road to Hinkley Point will be made a 24-hour clearway, complete with a new formal crossing point for horse riders.

Williton district councillor Hugh Davies said he was delighted by EDF's change of heart, especially as a new roundabout had been high on the local agenda for years.

"It is wonderful news and I finally feel that we've achieved something," he said.

"I said from the start they should use the lorry park and I was just elated when I saw it and they're going to put a roundabout in as well.

"I've told them not only will that benefit Williton and the rest of West Somerset, but also all the visitors who come to our neck of the woods every year."

EDF has also increased its financial offer to communities who will have to live in the shadow of the proposed Hinkley C station.

As part of its updated second stage consultation, which began last Friday, the company has unveiled a £20 million community fund, up from its original £1 million offer.

However, the £20 million will be spread over the life of the project, with the final payment being made when the second reactor is up and running and all construction work is finished.

The money is in addition to a separate £2.25 million pot pledged as part of the preliminary works application lodged with West Somerset Council to prepare the site for the proposed new station.

The consultation also includes plans for a £5 million housing fund, although details of how it would operate are scant, EDF believes the cash could be used to refurbish vacant or substandard properties or to provide loans to help local people get on the housing ladder.

The consultation document gives a commitment to help "facilitate housing development", particularly schemes hit by the current economic downturn.

Residents in Shurton, Burton, Knighton and Wick will benefit from a new property value guarantee scheme which will see EDF underwriting any loss in property value as a result of the project.

Previously, they had only been offered money to install double-glazing and to pay for landscaping and window cleaning to mitigate the effects of the construction work.

People living near the site will now be allowed to use sports facilities built for construction workers, while the number of on-site campus bedspaces has been reduced from 700 to 510 and the proposed car park relocated to reduce disturbance.

However, working hours have been tweaked to include the possibility of a night shift, construction work on a Sunday and general working hours from 6am to midnight.

EDF said the changes allowed for "slightly longer" shifts to improve overall efficiency and to allow flexibility.

Further changes have been made to landscaping proposals along the southern boundary in direct response to pleas from local residents, while the site boundary itself now includes part of the C182.

A "fish return" system has also been proposed for Bridgwater Bay to allow any fish sucked into the plant through water intake pipes to be returned to the sea.

But the company remains adamant there is sufficient bed space in the locality to cope with the expected influx of workers, despite repeated concerns being raised by district councillors about the loss of tourist bedspaces and rental properties.

Cllr Tim Taylor, leader of West Somerset Council, described EDF's latest offerings as a "mixed bag".

"In some areas the progress being made by EDF and our officers is very pleasing. For example, the positive moves in skills and education will leave a lasting legacy.

"We note the proposed switch of the Williton park and ride to the Smithyard lorry park and welcome the acknowledgement for the delivery of a roundabout at Washford Cross.

"This has been a long-standing local problem which could well be resolved with this development."

Cllr Taylor said the increased £20 million community fund was also a step in the right direction, although other proposals were less welcome.

He said: "In many areas there is still some way to go and, sadly, some proposed changes would result in impacts being worse.

"For example, we are very concerned with the prospect of 24-hour working on the main site and what this would mean to residents in the parish of Stogursey who will have to live with the development over the coming decade.

"Nor have our concerns about accommodation been addressed.

"Little attempt has been made to integrate workers into our communities for the benefit of social cohesion and there are no firm proposals for long-term legacy affordable housing.

"We will continue to work with EDF in an attempt to resolve matters throughout this consultation and in the run up to the submission of the main application."

EDF maintains its plans will provide a "£100 million lasting community investment", including investment in the local infrastructure and help to improve the quality of life for local people.

In a statement, EDF said the fundamentals of the project remained the same, but some changes had been made following consultation with communities, councils and statutory consultees.

Richard Mayson, EDF Energy's director of planning and external affairs, said the firm would be spending a total of £300 million mitigating the impacts of the proposed new power station.

He said EDF was committed to working with communities and had recognised the need to offer more support following earlier consultation.

"We have taken on board this feedback and we are now putting forward measures that should provide £100 million of lasting benefit.

"As part of this we have increased the community fund to £20 million to improve the quality of life in the local communities.

"The fund will be spent locally on a range of initiatives chosen by the community and local authorities," Mr Mayson said.

He said the investment would help to ensure any significant impacts of the construction or operation of the power station would be managed sensitively or mitigated.

He added: "Our dialogue is continuing with the local authorities to address issues they have raised through the consultation process and in connection with our preparatory works applications.

"We are keen to find a solution that works for the community and we are committed to ongoing dialogue."

The company has already pledged £1.6 million for the West Somerset Community College in Minehead and £4.5 million for Bridgwater College to provide training and skills to help students gain employment at Hinkley.

But anti-nuclear campaigners from Stop Hinkley cast doubt over the firm's claims about the number of local people likely to find work at the proposed station and criticised transport plans for not going far enough.

Spokesman Crispin Aubrey said: "EDF's new proposals gloss over the fact that constructing this new power station would be enormously disruptive for people who live in Somerset.

"Any temporary local benefits during construction must be set against the fact that, if allowed to start operation, Hinkley C would be an ongoing hazard to health and safety with a dangerous legacy of radioactive waste."

The consultation runs until the end of the month and more information about the latest proposals is available on the website http://www.edfenergyconsultation.info">www.edfenergyconsultation.info or by telephoning 01278 444600 or freephone 0800 169650.