Meeting Report. Date: 15 January 2015

Transcription

1 Meeting Report Regarding: EDF Energy Hinkley Point C: Community Forum Date: 15 January 2015 Attending: Alan Ladd Chairman Doug Bamsey Sedgemoor District Council Alan Beasley Save Cannington Action Group Dick Best Otterhampton Parish Council Julie Cooper Sedgemoor District Council Bob Croft Somerset County Council Mike Dixon Kilve Parish Council Lesley Flash Stogursey Parish Council Anne Fraser Sedgemoor District Council Andrew Goodchild Taunton Deane & West Somerset Councils David Harper Bridgwater College Stuart Hill CHAIR/BBWA Allan Jeffery Bridgwater & W. Somerset Green Party Lynda Laird Cannington Parish Council Ian Liddell-Grainger MP Barbara Oates WHAG Sarah Porter Stringston Parish Council Roy Pumfrey Stop Hinkley Anne Reed Wembdon Parish Council David Eccles EDF Energy Andrew Cockcroft EDF Energy Gareth Wynn EDF Energy Deb Campbell PPS Mark Price PPS Item 1. Introduction and Apologies Alan Ladd [AL] welcomed attendees and asked them to introduce themselves. Apologies were recorded from: Hugh Davies Somerset County Council; Brian Payne Environment Agency; Alyn Jones Somerset County Council; 2. Matters Arising Attendees confirmed that they were happy to sign off the minutes of the previous meeting held on 16 October The following matters arising from this meeting were raised: Item 11: Bob Croft (BC) said he would be happy to visit Cannington to provide a presentation on the archaeological finds. Allan Jeffery (AJe) advised members that copies of a letter he had written and that was subsequently printed in the Western Morning News was available at the Forum.

2 3. Project Update Gareth Wynn (GW) introduced this item and provided the following update: EDF Energy is finalising agreements with investors and equity partners as well as Infrastructure UK and is aiming for a financial investment decision by the end of the 1 st quarter AJe asked what happens if a judicial review challenge is made by an EU member state. GW said that EDF Energy will engage with the process and is currently engaging with the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to understand how it can progress HPC if the challenge proceeds. Alan Beasley (AB) asked if HPC was one of the three units for which the reported 21m Infrastructure Fund was being made available. GW said that without seeing the article in point, he could only assume that the Fund referred to is the bond guarantee scheme being set up by Infrastructure UK. AJe asked if the EU was still awaiting the information requested. GW said that the information was in relation to a further EU decision pending, regarding the waste contract. He explained that at the end of the life of HPC the waste will be transferred to the Government, with payment, for disposal. In response to a question about investors, GW explained that as part of the agreement with funders, there is an expectation that contingency funding is available, although there will be a commitment for the project to be on time and within budget. Lesley Flash (LF) asked how it can be on time if the original deadline was GW responded that due diligence procedures had affected the original timeframes. The deadline would be based on the actual start date. AJe expressed concern about the availability of parts. 4. Enabling Works Update David Eccles (DE) provided the following update: Works that are continuing to take place on-site include early earthworks;; construction of the early platform for the batching facility; Holford culvert; construction of plazas; and the final phase of remediation Works scheduled for 2015 include: construction of the batching plant; construction of the pre-fab facilities; construction of tunnels and deep trenches for services; preparation of jetty works on and off-shore DE then showed a film of a concrete pour and explained that EDF Energy has been testing out construction processes involving the concrete pour, through which lots of lessons are being learnt in preparation for the when the main construction works begin.

3 A short film about the excavation works was then shown. Stuart Hill (SH) raised concern that several machinery items were being moved during rush hour. DE said that this point would be taken on board as such movements should be avoided during peak times. Lynda Laird (LL) asked if aggregate and cement would continue to be brought in by road once the jetty is complete. DE said that aggregate and cement would be brought in via the jetty where possible, but some would still need to be transported by road if required. Building materials would have to be brought in by road. In response to a question from RP about asbestos remediation works, DE confirmed that these works are 80% compete. DE confirmed that the pillars on site are air and light vents for animals/reptiles crossing under the road. 5. Archaeology Presentation Bob Croft (BC), South West Heritage Trust for Somerset County Council, showed a film produced during the archaeological works undertaken along the route of the Cannington bypass that revealed a 3 rd Century Roman villa. Bob Croft then informed members of a major exhibition at Taunton Castle from 17 January until 11 April 2015 that will display the finds from the archaeological digs at Cannington bypass and at Hinkley Point C. Barbara Oates (BO) asked if the villa would be preserved. BC said it was impossible to preserve the villa as it was part of the bypass route. However the construction of the bypass had provided an opportunity to undertake the dig and they were fortunate to find the remains of a room. RP praised the open day and asked if there were still plans to re-cycle the finds for the reconstruction of a Roman building. BC confirmed that a replica Roman building is being constructed at Avalon Marshes near Shapwick and that materials recovered from the dig at Cannington bypass are being used in the construction of the building. It is due to open in September. LL asked if it is possible that there are more villas. BC said there is one at Spaxton and in an area near the Parrett. He offered to provide more information about the buildings discovered around Cannington when he gives a presentation in Cannington, as requested. 6. Hinkley Point C Web Presence Andrew Cockcroft (AC) updated members on two websites that have been produced: Hinkley Leisure is a collaboration between EDF Energy and Visit Somerset, and was developed by Visit Somerset on behalf of EDF Energy. The portal, which is exclusively for EDF Energy workers, aims to support local tourism by providing information and encouraging workers to utilise local leisure pursuits and tourism opportunities. Lesley Flash (LF) raised concerns about traffic impacts caused by workers visiting tourist destinations and asked if the website would encourage good conduct. AC said that workers would be reminded and encouraged to be mindful of road safety through lots of other ways. It

4 was not part of this website but they would explore with Visit Somerset how road safety behaviours can be encouraged via the website. LL commented that workers also needed to be aware that the area is agricultural and therefore need to understand and be mindful of agricultural movements. SH asked if the foreshore area could be included as it is unique. AC invited members to contact him if they knew of any events or pursuits that they thought should be included and he would pass it onto Visit Somerset. Somerset Homelet has been developed in conjunction with Sedgemoor District Council, West Somerset Council, North Somerset Council and Taunton Deane Council and is available for workers and for public use. The interactive website is a way of advertising and finding a private home to rent and is for use by those looking to find accommodation as well as landlords. LL raised concerns that making accommodation available to workers could ruin tourism. DE said that a lot of work was done to understand the ability of local accommodation to house workers as well as accommodate the needs of tourists and are reasonably confident that there is sufficient capacity. AC then reminded members that the EDF Energy website has a section about HPC: The website provides updates and will house the minutes of the forums. Feedback on how the website can be improved is always welcome. 7. Transport Forum The minutes of the meeting held on 11 December 2014 had still to be agreed. DE informed the Forum that the subject considered at the last Transport Forum was an update on the breadth of schemes planned in Bridgwater, including those belonging to other developers as well as those planned by EDF Energy. It then concentrated on EDF Energy schemes, including the Taunton Road/Broadway and explored the timings of the works. RP said that the Cannington Now facebook page was reporting that Sandford Corner required more works. DE said he would look into it and provide an afternote. (AFTERNOTE: EDF Energy is liable for repairing the damage to road surface at Sandford Corner and is currently assessing the options for conducting this work which may involve redesigning some elements of the scheme.) AJe asked what could be done to improve the Bath Road/Bristol Road junction. DE said there were three schemes around this junction referred to as the golden triangle which when complete would cumulatively improve the flow of traffic. In response to a query about Cannon Roundabout, DE confirmed it was not one of EDF Energy s schemes and was not part of the route for vehicles to HPC. Anne Reed (AR) said there are a lot of rumours about the works at Taunton Road/Broadway and that better publicity was required to better inform local people about the works and SCC s involvement in the design.

5 10. Main Site Forum The minutes of the meeting on 22 October 2014 had still to be agreed. DE provided the following update on the Main Site Forum: October saw the first meeting of the Forum in its revised format and it was very well attended There were two workshops at the last meeting, which included landscaping of the southern boundary The topics to be discussed at the next meeting on 28 January are an update on the southern boundary plans and public rights of way; and the temporary jetty and N.W. corner of Hinkley Point C. BO asked about the design of the NW bund, which she described as a terrible looking, lump of toblerone. [AFTERNOTE: Since the meeting it has been clarified that the bund referred to was the southern boundary, on which earth had been placed for temporary storage ahead of the landscaping which is due to begin later this year SH repeated his request for a map of PROWs so he can guide visitors appropriately. AG agreed to liaise with SCC to see what can be produced. (ACTION) SH expressed an interest in seeing the information about PROWs that is being presented at the next Main Site Forum meeting. PPS/EDF to formally contact Main Site Forum members to make a request for SH to attend the workshop as an observer. (ACTION) WSC/SCC PPS/EDF 11. Any Other Business RP asked if it would be possible for the community to be able to use the Crossville buses that transport workers between J24 and HPC. DE said that this had been explored in response to previous requests but it is not possible due to insurance restrictions. LL informed members that she would be standing down at the next election and this would therefore be her last meeting of the Community Forum. AL thanked LL for attending the meetings and for her positive contribution to the Forum. On behalf of the Community Forum and EDF Energy he wished her the very best for the future. SH asked when works would start at Combwich Wharf. DE said that surveys are currently taking place but that the works could not start until the Cannington bypass is close to completion. More information about timings will not be known until after the financial investment decision has been made. GW suggested giving local people an update once the time line was clear. (ACTION) EDF Energy AJe asked for further information about the storage of spent fuel at HPC and how long it would continue to be stored on site. GW said that spent fuel will only be on site for a few years after the life of the plant has ended. Some of the fuel will have already left the site during its lifetime. It will then be shipped to a long-term Government depository. 12. Date of Next Meeting

6 The date of the next meeting of the Forum is Thursday 14 May 2014 at Bridgwater College, Cannington, starting at 7pm. ALL TO NOTE