SIR — Re the current Hinkley Point planning application to West Somerset Council, your report last week provided some data regarding the size and there was an analogy using football fields as a comparison tool.

Sadly the calculations are seriously wrong. I have seen the same in other newspapers, so it seems the flaw in the arithmetic was from source.

The size of the proposed site is 171 hectares and the report states that equates to more than 158 football pitches. This is where my maths disagrees.

A hectare is 10,000 square metres and a standard football field (being 100m by 50m) will take up 5,000 square metres, so in 171 hectares you will have 342 football fields. 171 may not sound a lot, but take it in perspective and you are in the millions regards metres.

It has been made clear there will be no improvement to the existing A39 and 164 daily HGVs will be taking this route in order to facilitate the operation.

Has anyone factored in the fact there will be journeys each way, therefore doubling that estimate? If they have, they certainly have not pointed it out.

Possibly they have used the same number cruncher whoproduced the comparison with football fields.

My reason for concern is that all this relates simply to the initial stages and preparations for development.

This is before the main build and prior to the construction of a by-pass on the Brymore side of Cannington. In addition to all this there will be the logistics involved with the proposed jetty which comes in under yet another planning application.

Yet there is no intention of upgrading the existing road situation for either of the two aforementioned projects.

This means all this heavy traffic will be using the A39 through Bridgwater and Cannington, then onto the Hinkley point road which by today's standard is woefully inadequate.

At least those travelling to Williton and beyond will have the option of avoidance using the A358 from Taunton as a viable alternative.

I see there are sweeteners on offer for the adjacent neighbours such as double glazing and cavity wall insulation.

All fine and dandy, but those who are not subject to a preservation order will already have double glazing I suspect, and how do you add cavity insulation to a stone-built property I wonder?

All this was brought up at a public meeting in June at Hinkley Point, and they didn't have an answer then, therefore EDF clearly didn't listen or understand the question.

I have said from the start I am in favour of Hinkley C. However we need to get it right for ourselves and subsequent generations.

The model they have presented to date is very poor indeed. There may be opportunities that are open for exploitation, but there is a duty that EDF need to demonstrate properly to us the residents that they will get it right.

Importantly, those who have concerns regards the way this affair is being handled, or indeed mishandled, need to make their sentiments known to the appropriate planning authorities.

Alex Reed,

Brownings,

Cannington.