A PLAN to use a 4x4 minibus on Exmoor to cut pollution and increase visitor numbers has been refused a £38,970 grant because there was no evidence that the Hinkley Point C development is negatively affecting tourism.

West Somerset’s cabinet members received a report by Lisa Redston, Hinkley community and housing impact lead, at their meeting last Wednesday (March 7).

And they agreed to back the Hinkley Planning Obligation’s Board’s (POB) decision not to fund Minehead community transport group ATWest’s Moor Rover service.

This was planned to provide car-free journeys onto Exmoor and the Coleridge Way to “encourage social and lifestyle activities and minimise the adverse effects of the power-station project”.

Ms Reston’s report said that, in its application, ATWest claimed that visitors and local residents were now “disinclined” to drive to natural beauty-spots.

It was said this was because of the roadworks, noise, pollution, heavy traffic and worker transport linked to the new power station development.

Ms Redston said that Hinkley Tourism Action Partnership (HTAP) was supportive of the Moor Rover service but believed that further work was needed before the application was resubmitted.

HTAP felt it was not clear how the new vehicle would resolve the issues being faced, how many journeys it could make and whether there was sufficient demand.

Ms Redston added that the application lacked sufficient detail to give assurances that the scheme was financially sustainable and would help the local tourist economy.

She said there was no evidence that the tourist economy was being negatively impacted by the Hinkley Point project, and costs and possible income of the service had not been provided.

The application did not provide evidence of community or partner support or information about match funding.

Ms Redston said that, as a result, the POB had come to the conclusion that the application lacked enough information to show that the project would mitigate any impacts on the local community or would deliver its objectives.

Cllr Martin Dewdney said: “The more I looked at this application the more confused I got. There was no proposed contribution from the organisation itself and no matched funding.”

The cabinet’s recommendation to reject the ATWest bid will be discussed by the full council at a later date.

No-one from ATWest was available for comment.