SIR — I would like to pass my commiserations to Barbara Gates of Shurton who wrote to you regarding the destruction of 400 to 500 acres of countryside by EDF for the new power station.

It would be totally impossible to reinstate any area of countryside to its former glory. How can EDF possibly think that we don't know this?

How much more 'hoodwinking' are we going to be exposed to?

Sadly, it is my belief that EDF does not think for one minute they may have to do this.

I have visited the proposed site and as always was truly impressed with the beauty and tranquility of the area.

I feel that we are being asked to make a huge sacrifice handing this uniquely atmospheric area over to the bulldozers and millions of tons of concrete.

It is a massive price we are paying to supply a nation's thirst for energy.

It is a certainty that the more energy we produce the more will be used regardless of the costs to us all indirectly.

Would it be prudent for us to ration our consumption of energy to help preserve our countryside and way of life as it is today?

I imagine it will be absolute hell for the communities close to the site during the ten years of construction. No amount of compensation from EDF will be sufficient.

I wonder if people in West Somerset not close to the site understand the impact that the construction of this power station will have on their lives.

During construction, which is likely to take ten years or more (an identical plant in Finland Ras has taken three years longer than planned with the financial implications that this entails), thousands of workers will be moving into the area, starting at 2,000 and rising to almost 6,000 at the latter stages.

These workers will no doubt have families including children, mostly of school age.

EDF has been unable to supply and doesn't know how many adults and children will be coming into the area.

The impact that this alone will have on our housing, schools, health services, transport and much more is totally unknown.

Large park and rides are being provided, the only compulsion to use these being limited parking at the power station.

We can be sure that there will be a vast amount of traffic on our roads. Worst of all will be the A39 which will be laden with large, slow moving trucks.

One thing is certain. The areas surrounding Minehead and Williton will never be the same again.

The change brought about by so many more people in the area will be irreversible after completion.

Workers are bound to settle here as it is such an amazing area. House prices will be affected, which way and when, remains to be seen.

EDF has said that it expects to employ staff travelling up to 90 miles each way per day. These people are considered local but again they can't say how many because they don't know.

Most workers will have specialist jobs and will be trained by EDF for this.

Some local businesses will no doubt benefit from more people in the area but not directly due to the construction as materials and services are imported.

Tourism is an unknown as it is quite likely that all accommodation will be taken by EDF staff.

Accommodation is provided for some workers but not compulsory and most apparently will prefer to live off campus.

Minehead is bursting at the seams during the summer, particularly due to the holiday centre. Residents are accepting of this but further pressure on the town might just be the last straw.

Williton, already a bottle-neck, will suffer even greater pressure on its roads and services.

Has any thought been given to where these thousands of construction workers, many of them single men from abroad, will spend their leisure time and nights out?

Their income will be higher than average incomes in the area. Will this mean greater consumption of alcohol leading to even less safety on roads?

Higher incomes will no doubt give them greater purchasing power for housing.

To EDF, these points are of a minor consequence but very important to those who actually reside in the area.

So, people of West Somerset, if you are happy that your streets, beaches, places of interest, shops, roads, schools, doctors surgeries, buses, house prices will not be affected, don't do anything.

If, however you are not happy, then write to West Somerset Council in Williton now and tell them.

Michael R Taplin of Weston-Super-Mare writes to you of his support for nuclear power.

I wonder if he would be of the same opinion if Hinkley C was to be built close to his back garden.

Weston has a wonderful coastline, much closer to the ports in Bristol, very suitable with all those lovely beaches and oh so close to the motorway. Ideal for Hinkley C?

Meg Sunningdale,

Withycombe.