Last updated 15 May 2012

ANOTHER BLOW TO EDF AFTER LOSING COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR

The Guardian website reports Hinkley nuclear power station delay deals blow to government hopes dated 14 May 2012 as Reuters item highlights financial situation in UK nuclear build requires taxpayer rescue - Citi dated 8 May 2012.

It is reported in Building magazine that Alan Cumming, EDF Commercial Director, who spoke at the Somerset in Business Conference on 4 May 2011, has resigned. He was said to be very supportive of UK suppliers. Apparently EDF declined to comment! You can watch the 18 min video of that presentation if you're suffering from insomnia.

Meanwhile, the BBC website reports that Peter Hain quits: Ex-Wales and Northern Ireland secretary leaves shadow cabinet in order to pursue the green project of a Severn barrier, see also Peter Hain quits to back controversial Severn barrage bid, both dated 14 May 2012.
***********************************************************************************************************************************

CANNINGTON COURT

You have probably received EDF & Bridgwater College's pamphlet on their proposals for the development of Cannington Court.

Like me, I'm sure you will be relieved to read that 'St Mary's Church is not included in the development'. Were they considering pulling it down to make a car park or something?

We are invited to comment on the proposal with public exhibitions on 23 and 26 May 2012. Will these be the it's too early to consider suggestions meetings or the it's too late to change anything consultations?

PI (IPC) CANNINGTON OPEN FLOOR HEARINGS

Each of the 2 Open Floor Hearings for Cannington, on 9 May, were attended by about 40 (mainly Cannington) residents plus PI & EDF personnel. There were 17 speakers in the morning, 8 in the afternoon, and the main theme throughout was concern over traffic but other matters such as the applicants suitability were also raised. All speakers gave heartfelt presentations, leaving the panel of 3 Inspectors in no doubt as to our views of EDF.

As with the preliminary meeting, the speakers were recorded and an audio file will be made available on th PI website within about 1 week - details will be added here when available.

Other meetings are in Bridgwater on 16 May & Stogursey 17 May, see PI letter dated 16 April 2012 for full details. These meetings are open to all, only those wishing to speak had to pre-register.

Sedgemoor's Labour Group have registered 4 speakers for the Bridgwater meetings, see their blog LABOUR GROUP CALLS FOR CO-ORDINATED BRIDGWATER RESPONSE TO HINKLEY C 'LOCAL IMPACT REPORT' , dated 17 April 2012.

Alan Hurford, Bridgwater Town Clerk, is asking people not to miss the opportunity to show the strength of feeling about traffic problems generated by EDF's proposals, by attending the Open Floor Hearings in Bridgwater Town Hall on Wednesday 16 May 2012. Registration commences at 9.00am for 10.00am start (morning session) and 6.00pm for 7.00pm start (evening session). See Mercury item Hinkley traffic - Your last chance to speak dated 24 April 2012, for further information.

The notes (41 pages) and audio files (many hours, broken into sections) from the PI/IPC's Preliminary meeting in North Petherton, on 21 March 2012, are now available on their website. From the PI home page click on Hinkley Point C New Nuclear Power Station under Projects, then click on Project documents, and click on Preliminary Meeting button, the files are listed down the page.

The IPC 11 page Rule 8 letter, dated 27 March 2012, contains questions to EDF. In the meantime, it appears that our MP has had his ears bent by people unhappy with the IPC meeting, see thisissomerset item Hinkley Point: Deluge of complaints about first planning commission meeting dated 26 March 2012.

The 1197 representations made to the IPC are available at Relevant Representations and see SCC response to IPC and SDC response to IPC for full Councils' pdfs.
***********************************************************************************************************************************

MORE QUESTIONS OVER COST

A recent headline in the Times reads FRENCH ELECTION MAY CLOSE NUCLEAR OPTION - Nuclear energy policy in Britain is on the verge of meltdown as experts predict that the new French government will order EDF to divert billions of euros intended for new UK reactors back into the French domestic power market, whilst gfmag page EDF Sees UK New Nuclear Costs Rising By 40% dated 7 May 2012 raises more uncertainty.

The following extracts from article by Vern Pitt, Building magazine, shows EDF's attitude to Cannington:

Client EDF claims restrictions on lorry movements could hold up completion of the project. The construction of the UK’s first nuclear power plant could suffer a delay of up to two years if caps on lorry movements by local authorities aren’t lifted, client EDF Energy has claimed.

Nearly all road deliveries to the costal site in Somerset earmarked for the proposed £10bn new Hinkley plant, have to pass through the village of Cannington, which sits between Hinkley Point and the M5 - the nearest motorway.

In a written answer to questions from the Planning Inspectorate, EDF said the existing cap would not only delay completion of the project by between 21 and 24 months but also increase costs.

EDF added: “EDF Energy respectfully suggests that such a delay cannot be justified by the short-term impacts in Cannington".  So now you know!

Monitor EDF's share price see if it gets below recent low of 15.09 Euros, down more than 82% from its peak in late 2007.
***********************************************************************************************************************************

ROADS QUIET FOR A WHILE?

It appears that EDF have finally completed the relatively trivial task of removing some waste from the Point, after exceeding their planning permissions twice due to incompetent estimation of the size of the project - what chance a nuclear plant on time? How much longer would it have gone on if they hadn't been able to dump a huge amount in the old A station turbine hall?

Interestingly, the Neighbourhood Watch police team have just advised the following: Public Meetings:  Next Have Your Say meeting is to be held on 22 May at 7pm - venue to be confirmed. Current priority includes speeding along the Cannington to Hinkley road.  Local officers are monitoring closely.
***********************************************************************************************************************************

ACCIDENT ON A38 OR A39 BLOCKING ROAD? - TELL BBC RADIO 2

You can help when you are aware of this happening, by ringing the Radio 2 traffic line on 07300 100 200, and telling them that access to Hinkley Point atomic power station is restricted.
*********************************************************************************************************************************************************

What we want - A Bypass for Bridgwater - The Real Solution .

Go to Links page for other items previously on this page.
PLEASE SEND THIS WEBSITE TO ANYONE LOCAL - Right click anywhere on page, click Send Link, fill in email address & send, thanks