Government urged to block 'crazy' EDF saltmarsh plans

Hinkley Point C's first unit is expected to be operational in 2027

A council is calling on the government to block "crazy" plans to flood hundreds of acres of farmland.

EDF wants to turn the land near the Somerset village of Kingston Seymour into a salt marsh to compensate for the 44 tonnes of fish killed every year by nuclear plant Hinkley Point C.

North Somerset Council is urging the energy company to drop the plan and instead invest in biodiversity in better ways.

EDF said it was "obliged to make environmental improvements" in conjunction with the construction of the power station and argued the new marshes would provide safe habitats for fish and animals.

Councillor Steve Bridger said the proposals would impact "a thriving network" of small businesses that had recently been created in the area.

He explained this was on top of the effect on agricultural land, livelihoods, and biodiversity.

In September, young farmer Sophie Cole said: "No amount of money can compensate me for the loss of my livelihood and exciting plans for the future."

Sophie Cole's entire farm could be affected by the plans

When Somerset’s new nuclear power station was granted planning permission, it was told to install speakers to scare off fish from getting sucked into its cooling systems.

But EDF now says this would be "dangerous to install" and wants to make up for the loss of fish by creating 340 hectares of saltmarsh along the River Severn.

Mr Bridger, Independent, told a full council meeting the plan was "ham-fisted", adding: "Landowners who would be directly impacted by the proposals were sent letters in September, completely out of the blue, with a rather threatening tone talking about compulsory purchase of their land."

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Conservative councillor Peter Burden added: "It is crazy, chairman, to destroy habitat to mitigate for killing fish."

He tabled a motion for the council to urge the government to insist that EDF obey the original planning conditions, which councillors voted unanimously to pass.

'Bulletproof' sea defences

Mr Bridger said EDF should "instead be asked to fund all sorts of biodiversity gains in North Somerset that we actually want and need".

The salt marsh plan involves not maintaining the sea wall, and building new sea defences further inland which EDF has insisted would be "bulletproof."

Mr Burden warned that if the sea wall gave way, "Jacqueline’s Bridge Fish Farm will be three feet underwater and Tickenham Church will be an island".

The council will now write to the government to urge officials to enforce the original planning conditions on EDF, and not let them swap them for creating salt marshes.

The company said it was still "exploring options", which could include "pockets" of saltmarsh at different locations.

A public consultation will be held on any plans before they go ahead.