SIR — I write in response to the letter from Peter Farmery in last week’s edition of the Free Press.

Mr Farmery raises a number of issues about the level of support which West Somerset Council has offered, and is offering, the communities most affected by the Hinkley Point C development in Stogursey Parish.

It is important to highlight that it was not West Somerset Council that granted consent for the power station, works on the ‘southern land’ or the on-site campus; it was the Secretary of State who followed the recommendation of a Panel of Examining Inspectors appointed by the Planning Inspectorate.

West Somerset Council supported residents in their objection to the campus throughout discussions and formal stages of consultation with EDF Energy and during the majority of the six-month examination into the development. The withdrawal of our objection at the end of the examination was a reflection on the written exchanges and the hearings into the subject.

The fact that the panel supported the inclusion of the campus in its report and recommendation suggests that the council was correct in its interpretation of the position. Similarly, the council’s sustained support in opposing 24/7 working resulted in significant and important limitations on the type and location of overnight working.

Mr Farmery says the council capitulated: objection for objection’s sake could have resulted in far less restrictive operating practices to the detriment of residents. West Somerset Council will continue to monitor the impacts of all aspects of the development.

The issue of speeding is the responsibility of the police and, to an extent Somerset County Council. This has been discussed with Mr Farmery, other residents and the district council and is also an issue which is being monitored. The matter is consistently raised at community forums and at the site stakeholder group covering all three Hinkley Point sites.

The parish of Stogursey already has simplified arrangements for accessing the Community Impact Mitigation (CIM) Fund with the parish council taking a leading role in the decision-making process.

The district council has repeatedly highlighted the issues relevant to the hamlets closest to the Hinkley Point C in virtually every communication and conversation it has with Government and EDF Energy over the last seven to eight years.

We have spent a considerable amount of time in Stogursey parish to support residents, develop projects based on the parish priorities and to try to help generate ideas for mitigation. We also send senior officers to both the Main Site Forum and Community Forum and have offered to attend parish councils on request. We will again be seeking to organise a workshop with local people in the next few weeks following the recent announcements by Government.

West Somerset Council has never underplayed the level of disruption to local residents in Stogursey parish and will continue to work hard to minimise those impacts within the bounds of the planning consents and to develop local projects to benefit all residents.

Cllr Anthony Trollope-Bellew,

Leader,

West Somerset Council.