PARISH councillors in Nether Stowey have given a cautious thumbs up to the prospect of housing some construction workers for the proposed Hinkley C nuclear power station in the village.

French company EDF Energy, which is behind plans for a third station at Hinkley Point, has earmarked one of two green field sites in Williton for a 200-bed hostel and a 350-vehicle park and ride facility.

But Williton Parish Council has rejected any suggestion of developing either site in the first instance.

Instead it has told EDF to explore the possibility of building accommodation in Nether Stowey, which company spokesman Simon Dunford told a recent meeting of the parish council, was keen to have it.

But in its official response to the Hinkley proposals, Nether Stowey Parish Council has made it quite clear that it considered there was only "limited potential" for the development of workers' accommodation in the village.

And it has said it would only be prepared to accept family units - not single workers - as these are more likely to contribute to village life, support local businesses and facilities and less likely to cause law and order problems.

Any development would need to be to the north and east of the village centre and should be no bigger than the existing Hartley Meadow estate off Stogursey Lane, which has 67 homes, which in EDF terms would equate to accommodation for around 100 workers.

But the council has also said it would expect any development to be permanent, with the 'legacy' uses including affordable social housing, a residential care or nursing home or accommodation for small businesses.

In its response, the council said Nether Stowey had a long standing and positive connection with the Hinkley Point power stations and the council welcomed the proposed station as a significant and positive investment in the area.

But it said a development of the size proposed would inevitably bring with it pressures and challenges for local communities, including Nether Stowey, which if not addressed would have a detrimental impact on the area.

These included:

l Increased traffic congestion generally and in particular on the A39.

l A reduction in road safety at the A39 St Mary Street junction.

l Increased car parking pressures in the village centre.

l Increased demand for residential property, exacerbating current problems of affordable homes for young people.

l Increased demand for bed and breakfast accommodation reducing the space for tourists.

l Increased pressure on public services, including the medical centre and school.

l Loss of community identity due to an influx of temporary and permanent workers.

l Anti-social and law and order problems from a large influx of unaccompanied male workers at Hinkley.

The new power station would also be visible from much of the southern part of Nether Stowey.

The council said that a public meeting in the village last Thursday gave a "cautiously positive reaction" to the opportunities presented by the Hinkley C development.

But it said it would expect EDF to implement a package of measures to mitigate all the concerns outlined whether workers' accommodation was built in Nether Stowey or not.

The council has voiced serious concerns about the traffic implications of the proposed park and ride facility in Williton and described EDF's transport strategy has having a "fundamental weakness".

"Whilst such a facility may reduce the number of vehicles on the A39, it will exchange cars for larger buses," said the council.

"There are a number of pinch points on the A39 between Williton and Cannington where it is difficult for two large vehicles to pass."

The council has called on EDF to work with Somerset County Council and Sedgemoor District Council to achieve a road link from the A38 in the Dunball area to a Cannington by-pass, linking the A39.

Nether Stowey Parish Council clerk Ainsley Ensor said the authority wanted to make it clear that it was not saying it wanted any large scale development in the village.

"We have given a very cautiously positive response to the Hinkley proposals and we feel there is limited potential for housing some of the construction workers."