Sedgemoor District Council has this week lodged a formal objection against EDF’s plans to build a new temporary sea jetty next to Hinkley Point power station, near Burnham-On-Sea.
At a full meeting of the council on Wednesday, members voted in favour of making a formal objection to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) regarding the construction of the jetty.
The matter had previously been considered by the council’s Licensing and General Purposes Committee on January 19th and a 105-page technical submission was sent to the MMO outlining Sedgemoor’s concerns.
The MMO required that it was passed by the full council, prompting the discussion on Wednesday.
During a public question time session, Ms Glen Burrows asked: “This development will have an immense impact on coastal and marine environments and inhabitants. The jetty will be in place for at least seven years (the period of construction), so it is impossible to imagine the region being returned to its former state. Are councillors satisfied that the appropriate consultations and assessments have taken place in order to establish the exact ecological impact these works will have?”
Sedgemoor council spokeswoman Claire Faun said: “Sedgemoor is only a consultee on this application. Sedgemoor does not determine the application. EDF are at liberty, as are any other organisation, to submit a planning application to the Marine Management Organisation at any time.”
“We have submitted a ‘holding’ objection in order to gain more information. The Marine Management Organisation are the experts in the coastal and marine environments. That is why they determine the application. They will consider all aspects referred to and councillors will be guided by their expert opinions on these matters.”
