WILLITON should get funding for a public swimming pool, new leisure facilities and a link road as part of EDF Energy's plans to offset the impact of a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point.

The village has been earmarked for a park and ride facility for construction workers travelling to the proposed Hinkley C development and local council chiefs are adamant the energy giant should do more to compensate communities affected by its proposals.

Together with Sedgemoor District Council, West Somerset Council has drawn-up a comprehensive blueprint setting out its aims and aspirations from the Hinkley development.

As well as better community facilities in Williton, Stogursey and Watchet also feature prominently in the draft supplementary planning document, which will now go out for public consultation.

It focuses on a range of issues, including housing, tourism, leisure and waste storage and makes it clear both authorities want to see lasting, permanent benefits for local residents as a result of the multi-billion pound development.

It places an emphasis on the need for permanent homes for construction workers rather than EDF's favoured temporary hostels, only supports small-scale workers' accommodation on site and calls for the bulk of the workers' housing to eventually be signed over as local need, affordable homes.

The councils want to see up to 35 workers' homes being created within the long-awaited East Quay development in Watchet and up to 25 homes within Stogursey's Paddons Farm.

They believe accommodation plans for more than 100 workers in any one place should be accompanied by a "robust" impact investigation, while money should be given to a housing fund if EDF comes down in favour of temporary rather than permanent developments.

West Somerset's planning manager Andrew Child told councillors on Wednesday he hoped the draft document would help to shape EDF's proposals and give the authorities real negotiating power when a planning application for Hinkley C was eventually submitted to the Infrastructure Planning Commission.

He said he did not believe the power company had taken on board the criticisms already lodged against its plans and said he did not anticipate any major changes being included in EDF's latest "stage 2a" round of consultation.

"Despite our best efforts to persuade EDF otherwise, I suspect many of our concerns will remain, which is very disappointing," he said.

"This document will help to shape EDF's proposals and will provide a good test and reference document in terms of going forward.

"We believe it comes up with a better solution than that being proposed by EDF.

"We are simply trying to facilitate a better form of development."

The document highlights the enormous pressures that will be put on the existing local infrastructure by the proposed development, including the loss of rented and tourism bedspaces, the potential harm posed to the tourism industry and the additional traffic which is likely to swamp the district's roads.

It calls for compensation and mitigation to relate either directly or indirectly to either actual or perceived harm and sets out a range of measures to offset the impact of existing proposals for park and ride facilities in Williton, Cannington and Bridgwater.

The document states: "The councils recognise the national need to achieve energy security while reducing carbon emissions.

"New nuclear build also potentially represents significant opportunities in terms of investment, job creation and strengthening of the local economy.

"Nevertheless, the councils are concerned to ensure there is an appropriate framework to inform the proposals for the Hinkley Point C project.

"The councils are seeking to ensure that a coherent, planning and development approach is adopted that integrates with spatial plans for the area, so that the construction of Hinkley Point C does not result in unacceptable economic, social and environmental impacts and harm to local communities and businesses."

Councillors also gave their backing to a separate policy document drawn-up between West Somerset, Sedgemoor and Somerset County Council which sets out the three authorities' aims to achieve a more "dynamic and sustainable economy" as a result of the Hinkley proposals.

The policy focuses on "people, place and business" to ensure the local workforce is suitably trained, associated employment development sites are appropriate and local businesses are able to play a positive role in the supply chain for the project.

Cllr Doug Ross said it was important West Somerset did not lose out in favour of existing economic hubs in Taunton and Bridgwater, while others raised fears of who would pick up the bill for dealing with the radioactive waste generated by the proposed new plant.

Cllr Chris Morgan, deputy leader and lead member for environment, said the two reactors earmarked at Hinkley C would produce thousands of tonnes of toxic materials in their lifetimes, all of which would be stored on site.

He said there were suggestions the taxpayer could have to foot the bill for disposal and storage of waste, while the draft supplementary planning document calls for full compensation for the authorities affected by the on-site storage plans.

The document will be subject to a 42- day consultation before being formally adopted by the district councils.