A MAJOR scheme that will almost lay the foundations for a proposed - but as yet unapproved - new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point looks set to get the go-ahead.

West Somerset Council's planning committee is due to determine an application by French energy company EDF for a raft of preliminary site works for its hoped-for Hinkley C development on Thursday (July 28).

And officers are recommending the scheme is approved - subject to an investment by the company of just over £29 million in mitigation measures and a list of conditions that run to more than 30 pages.

The controversial work involves a site stretching more than 400 acres from the Severn Estuary to the village of Shurton and includes the construction of roads, roundabouts and car parks.

In addition to clearing and levelling the land, which will mean the loss of hedgerows, woodland and grassland, around 11 kilometres of footpaths will be diverted - including one kilometre of the nationally important South West Coast Path.

The estimated 3.2 million cubic metres of soil and rocks set to be removed is said to be more than was dug out to prepare the site of the 2012 London Olympic Games.

But in the conclusion of a 363-page report to councillors, officers make it clear that national policies on nuclear energy have had to be given significant weight in the determination of the application.

The Government already considers the site at Hinkley to be potentially suitable for the development of a new nuclear power station.

And, if approved, the preliminary work is expected to deliver a time-saving of at least a year on the power station build itself - approval of which will be decided by the independent Infrastructure Planning Commission.

The application has attracted objections from 379 individuals or groups, raising concerns ranging from transport and noise issues to the impact on the archaeology and ecology of the area and the effect on local communities.

A string of parish councils surrounding the site have also lodged objections.

But there have also been 105 letters of support, almost half using a Somerset Chamber of Commerce template largely highlighting the economic value of the development.

However, statutory bodies ranging from Avon and Somerset police and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service to English Heritage and Natural England have raised a series of major concerns, while Somerset highways chiefs have yet to lift a 'holding' objection in relation to a number of issues.

And yesterday (Thursday) planners were condemned for their recommendation of approval for the scheme by the anti-nuclear Stop Hinkley campaign.

It accused EDF of "jumping the gun" by submitting the application, with the time-saving argument described as insignificant compared with the overall timescale for building the nuclear plant - around ten years.

Stop Hinkley spokesman Crispin Aubrey said if councillors granted permission, EDF would effectively be allowed to start the pre-construction of Hinkley C.

"West Somerset Council has been forced into recommending approval for this application by misguided national policy in favour of nuclear power," said Mr Aubrey.

"After the Fukushima accident in Japan, the Government should be pausing to consider the lessons rather than ploughing mindlessly ahead."

Mr Crispin said campaigners planned to be outside the district council's headquarters in Williton on Thursday - where the planning committee will meet - in an attempt to lobby councillors and encourage them to reject the application.

He said there was no certainty EDF would go ahead with building Hinkley C, partly for financial reasons.

And if approval was not given for the power station, more than 400 acres of countryside would have been needlessly "trashed".

"Any supposed economic benefits to the area from this work will be outweighed by the disruption it will cause," said Mr Crispin.

"The planning officer's report accepts, for example, that the employment benefits are likely to be relatively small compared to the local impacts."

The planning committee meeting will start at 10am and anyone wanting to register to speak must contact the council by noon on Monday on 01643 703704.