COMMUNITIES whose lives and homes are set to be blighted by the development of the UK's largest building project - the proposed Hinkley C nuclear power station - have delivered a vote of no confidence in the independent body charged with scrutinising the plans - before the process has even begun.

Residents in Stogursey and the tiny hamlets of Shurton, Burton, Knighton, Wick and Stolford will bear the brunt of the impact of the estimated ten-year construction of the plant, its 60-year operation and the eventual decommissioning and waste storage phases of the project.

Some residents will be living literally in the shadow of the twin-reactor development, with the site just hundreds of yards from their homes.

Yet they claim they are being ignored by the Infrastructure Planning Commission - the Government-funded organisation that is about to begin examination of the application put forward by French-owned EDF Energy before a final decision is made by Energy Secretary Ed Davey.

The IPC has omitted Stogursey and its hamlets from a list of communities promised 'open floor' hearings as part of the examination process.

The hearings are designed to give local people the chance to air their concerns and the IPC the opportunity to better understand the impacts of the proposed development on communities.

But while the parishes of Cannington and Combwich - some five miles away from the Hinkley C site - have been allocated three hearing days in the IPC's draft timetable, Stogursey fails to even get a mention.

Around 60 people turned out for a meeting in the village on Wednesday evening to voice their anger, frustration and concerns to West Somerset's MP Ian Liddell-Grainger.

The meeting had been arranged long before the storm broke over the IPC's failure and had been scheduled to discuss Hinkley C issues in general.

But local people wasted no time in venting their fury and giving overwhelming support to a motion of no confidence in the recently appointed IPC panel who will examine the Hinkley C proposal and the organisation's chairman Sir Michael Pitt.

Mr Liddell-Grainger pledged he would take their message to the top.

He said he had previously been offered a meeting with the IPC but had wanted to speak to Stogursey residents first to ensure he could represent their true concerns and feelings.

And he said, although he could understand the lack of confidence expressed, he urged local residents to ensure they took part in the IPC process.

"It is the only game in town and you have got to play it," he said.

Before the meeting got underway, one of the anti-nuclear protesters who this week set up camp in an abandoned farm building on the Hinkley C site, attempted to speak to the residents.

The man, who did not give his name, had been asked to leave after being told that the meeting was for residents only.

He said he had recently moved into the area and revealed that the protesters had been given iodine tablets and were arranging for post to be delivered to the local post office.

"Come up and see us," he told residents before embarking on a speech outlining the desecration and destruction of the landscape that would be caused if the nuclear power station was built - sentiments that received applause from some residents.

Once the meeting was underway, Mr Liddell-Grainger said he would be using all his influence to ensure that the IPC did stage a hearing in Stogursey.

"They have to come here because you are going to be on the front line for the next ten years.

"I am determined that you will have your say and that the Secretary of State knows what is happening on the ground here."

Mr Liddell-Grainger said residents had to ensure their voice was heard by the IPC and that they raised specific issues they wanted changed, such as 24-hour working, traffic issues, the on-site hostel for construction workers, noise levels, the impact on the landscape, the location of the proposed buildings and the loss of footpaths.

He urged people to turn out in their hundreds to the IPC hearings to deliver a powerful message to the organisation.

Maggie Gooding told the meeting it was important the IPC visited the hamlets surrounding the Hinkley C site before any preliminary work - which has already been granted planning permission - got underway.

"They need to come and see what it is like now and if they can meet us and see us as real people with real concerns, not faceless, nameless residents, maybe that will make a difference."

Lesley Flash added: "What residents are so appalled about is the loss of quality of life, the tranquility of living in a small community.

"Much of that will no longer be evident and will have been destroyed once the preliminary works start."

Ms Flash said she hoped residents would be able to engage with the IPC and that the organisation would listen.

"We have tried to engage with EDF but they simply don't listen," she said.

"We have been stonewalled - it's like wrestling with a grisly bear. I hope it won't be the same with the IPC."

West Somerset Council is backing Stogursey's call to be recognised by the IPC and yesterday (Thursday) said it was calling for swift action from IPC chairman Sir Michael Pitt and lead commissioner Andrew Phillipson.

Council leader Cllr Tim Taylor said it was "astonishing" that the parish, which would bear the brunt of the very worst impacts of the proposed development, had not been afforded the same opportunity as Cannington and Combwich.

"I understand the anger and anxiety this has caused," said Cllr Taylor.

"As a council we have written to the IPC chairman to point out what must be an oversight and asked for the situation to be rectified as soon as possible.

"Naturally, we are pleased representatives are visiting neighbouring parishes, like Combwich and Cannington, but the voices of the people of Stogursey must be heard at the start of the examination process in the same way as other communities further from the site."

Cllr Taylor said, if Hinkley C went ahead, the small close-knit community of Stogursey and its surrounding hamlets would suffer the most profound negative impacts of any community, which, if not controlled, would have an enormous effect on people's quality of life.

The council is also calling on the IPC to bring forward its inspection of the Hinkley C site, currently scheduled for September.

Deputy leader Cllr Chris Morgan, who represents the Quantock Vale area and who with fellow ward member Cllr Sue Goss was at Wednesday's meeting, said it was vital the IPC came sooner rather than later.

"Once site preparation work starts, which will be soon, the commissioners may not be able to appreciate the true impact that this will have on the community and its environment," said Cllr Morgan.

"Residents in Stogursey parish are extremely upset and disappointed that they have received no recognition of their existence.

"From the start, they have worked positively with authorities to help them understand how drastically their lives and environment will change and it is vital that they are given a say."

A spokesman for the IPC told the Free Press that the draft timetable of hearings was only a starting point for discussion.

He said it could be revised in the light of submissions received at the preliminary meeting which is due to be held in March on the outskirts of Bridgwater.

"The purpose of the preliminary meeting is to decide how the examination of the application will be carried out," said the spokesman.

"People who registered as an interested party will have the opportunity to explain how they feel a particular issue should be examined.

"The absence of a date for an open floor hearing in Stogursey in the draft timetable should not be interpreted as meaning that the panel will not have regard to representations regarding the effect the proposal would have on the community."