CAMPUS accommodation for up to 200 construction workers for a new nuclear power station and a 350-space park and ride scheme could be built on one of two greenfield sites in Williton.

The development, likely to prove hugely controversial, has been earmarked for land to the west of the village behind Mamsey House residential care home or to the east on fields beyond Catwell.

EDF energy, the company behind plans for a twin reactor station at Hinkley Point on the West Somerset coast, has unveiled the proposals in a pre-application consultation document.

The development of either site in Williton would lead to a huge increase in traffic through the centre of the village, with the land to the west accessed via the A39 Minehead to Williton road and that to the east from the A358.

But the proposal, which would also include associated living and recreational facilities, has been dubbed an 'Auf Wiedersehen Pet' style development - reminiscent of the 1980s' television comedy drama series about a group of British migrant construction workers.

Cllr Jon Freeman, a former environment portfolio holder on West Somerset Council, said he was alarmed by the proposals contained in the consultation document.

The district council already stands accused of failing to fight its corner to win community benefits from the Hinkley scheme.

Although the site of the new power station is within the council's boundary, a number of councillors and critics believe West Somerset will lose out to neighbouring Sedgemoor, whose district council is taking the lead on the nuclear negotiations.

Cllr Freeman said: "Apart from the development site itself, which is in West Somerset, our only benefit would seem to be an Auf Wiedersehen Pet-style campus for 200 construction workers in Williton with an adjoining car park.

"No road improvements, no infrastructure or financial benefit is on offer - only the chance to benefit from the 'legacy' of a deserted workers' shanty town in eight to ten years time.

"In the meantime, we are expected to suffer an increase in traffic on our already hopelessly inadequate A39."

Cllr Freeman warned that camps of probably exclusively male construction workers, some a long way from home, would also probably have major crime and disorder implications for the area.

EDF, which says it has no preference over which site in Williton is chosen for the development, estimates that around 4,000 workers will be involved in the construction of the new power station - 2,400 of whom will be non-local.

In addition to the Williton proposal, it is planning a 700-bed on-site hostel, accommodation for 500 workers in another development in Bridgwater and a further 320-bed unit in Cannington.

Bridgwater would also have two park and ride facilities - one with 750 spaces at junction 23 of the M5 and a further 350 at junction 24 - while Cannington would be asked to take a 900-space park and ride.

EDF is also proposing to build a bypass at Cannington, which would take all nuclear traffic straight to Hinkley and avoid the village, but which would seemingly provide no benefit to other motorists.

And the company would also refurbish Combwich Wharf to allow the delivery of freight by water and construct a number of freight consolidation/storage facilities in Bridgwater and Cannington.

The campuses are expected to provide accommodation for an estimated 35 per cent of the non-local workers, with a further 27 per cent housed in B&Bs, guest houses or caravan parks.

The company anticipates around 13 per cent would live in homes they own, with 25 per cent renting property.

The Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development, based at Oxford Brookes University, has been asked by EDF to carry out a study on how the construction of the power station might affect accommodation in the local area.

If planning permission is granted, preparatory work could start in 2011, with the main construction lasting from 2013 to 2019.

The OISD is currently asking anyone who could offer accommodation to workers - largely single men who may be prepared to travel up to 45 minutes to the power station site - to contact it.

EDF insists that the campuses will be built to a high standard and will boast facilities and amenities that include a restaurant, sports facilities, laundries, a bar and TVs in all rooms.

It lists amongst its objectives the need to ensure that workers are well supported and maintain high standards of conduct and that the impacts of the developments on local communities are assessed and appropriate mitigation measures put in place, with, for example, support for local health and education facilities.

It believes that once it is no longer needed, the Williton campus could become a hotel or residential facility, such as sheltered accommodation, or have commercial or community uses.

And it said all land uses were being considered for the park and ride site, which would be available from 2019 onwards.

EDF is seeking to acquire an interest in all the land it needs, ideally through private agreement with landowners.

But with the Government now having earmarked Hinkley as one of ten approved sites across England and Wales deemed suitable for the next generation of nuclear power stations, the company makes it clear it would not hesitate to use compulsory purchase powers if negotiations fail.

The Williton sites are approximately 15.5 hectares and 22 hectares respectively but only 8.5 hectares would be needed for the campus and park and ride.

Both are described by EDF as being outside the flood plain but lie within flood zones designated by the Environment Agency as having a 'high probability' of flooding.

Williton ward member Cllr Hugh Davies said the proposals were potentially worrying.

"I'm concerned that we are going to need more medical facilities, more leisure facilities and an increase in the number of 'real' police," he said.

"There might be some positive aspects to this because in the short term it could bring more trade for shops and businesses.

"But I am worried about a possible rise in crime and anti-social behaviour - we are talking about 200 men, most of whom will be young and I dread to think what impact that might have on the community when they hit the local pubs."

Consultations on the proposals will be carried out in two stages, with the first focusing on the initial plans put forward by EDF at a series of special events and exhibitions at Cannington Village Hall on November 28 from 10am to 4pm, Stogursey Victory Hall on December 2 from 2pm to 8pm and Danesfield Middle School on December 5 from 10am to 4pm.