WEST Somerset communities will finally start to benefit from a £25 million windfall from prospective Hinkley C developer EDF Energy after major Stogursey landowner Lady Elizabeth Gass this week gave her seal of approval.

More than five months after planning permission was granted in principle for site preparation works to be carried out, Lady Gass - who stands to make almost £50 million from the sale of her land to EDF - signed a legal agreement known as a Section 106, tying all parties into the clearance and preparation of the site.

West Somerset Council was unable to formally issue planning approval for EDF to begin its preliminary works until the document was signed.

In turn, the £25 million funding pot could not be released, leaving a host of new jobs, sports facilities and a £700,000 pot specifically for tourism in limbo.

But on Wednesday district councillors were told all parties had entered into the legal agreement, releasing the cash and allowing EDF to finally begin work on the site.

"It's taken a long time but we're finally there," council chairman Cllr Tony Knight said.

Stogursey ward member and environment lead member Cllr Chris Morgan added: "This project will have an enormous and devastating impact on this area.

"This will now allow finances to be released to employ extra planning officers and staff to ensure West Somerset doesn't lose out."

The funding pot will be used to offset the impact of the preparation works on the district and neighbouring Sedgemoor, with West Somerset Council retaining overall control of the purse strings.

The district council is preparing to take on 11 additional staff members as a result of the EDF cash to help with issues ranging from the environmental impact of the Hinkley development to tourism, housing and planning pressures

"Council Tax-payers cannot be expected to pick up the bill for all the extra work," council planning manager Andrew Goodchild said.

Councillors agreed to set up a new board comprising representatives from West Somerset and Sedgemoor District Councils, Somerset County Council and EDF.

Community groups will be encouraged to make funding bids to the board which, in turn, will make recommendations for funding allocations.

Mr Goodchild said: "Given the nature of the proposal and the impact that the development will have, the Section 106 is a complex document securing a range of measures and contributions towards a number of projects and organisations - the contributions themselves total over £25 million.

"These measures and contributions have been secured to ensure that the impacts of the development are adequately mitigated.

"The Section 106 agreement includes provisions for West Somerset Council, Sedgemoor District Council and Somerset County Council as well as other organisations, including the emergency services, to receive contributions."

The various funding pots will now be released in phases, based on what stage the work has reached.

The two biggest single sums of funding for £3.7 million and £2 million for accommodation and housing and community mitigation respectively will become available during "phase two" of the works - most likely within the next 15 months.

Both West Somerset and Sedgemoor district councils will get millions of pounds each to employ additional staff to cope with the impact of the

development, from customer services workers to economic specialists and finance officers.

Some £90,000 will be given to West Somerset, plus another £90,000 for Sedgemoor, for the employment of a tourism officer over two years - even though Minehead's only dedicated tourism information centre is currently mothballed.

An additional £320,000 will be available for tourism promotion, marketing and surveys over two years, and £200,000 to support existing tourism information centres.

Stogursey will get £500,000 towards new or improved sports and leisure facilities, while an additional £250,000 will be given for sports facilities elsewhere in the district.

Similar amounts have also been pledged for Sedgemoor, with £500,000 for sports and leisure in Cannington, another £500,000 in Bridgwater itself and £250,000 specifically towards a new swimming pool at Chilton Trinity Technical College.

While some of the money will be paid directly to recipients such as the district and county councils and the emergency services, other sums will be overseen by the newly-formed board for recommendation to West Somerset's cabinet.

Councillors gave their support to the breakdown and allocation of the £25 million and nominated Cllr Kate Kravis and council group manager Ian Timms as the authority's representatives on the new board.

Mr Goodchild added: "As the local planning authority for the development and in accordance with the council's normal practices, West Somerset rightly plays an important role in co-ordinating and controlling the allocation of contributions.

"This is the first in what is likely to be a series of reports seeking cabinet approval for the allocation of funds secured by the Section 106 agreement, as and when the development is commenced."