Hinkley Point C in the local community

Q: What steps has the project taken to minimise risk following the Christmas break?

A. Our extensive measures to prevent infection are proving to be effective and they will continue to be in place for as long as the risk exists. Our approach has been commended by Public Health England and our independent regulator, the Office for Nuclear Regulation.

The movement of workers to and from our region has been an area of concern for some in the community. That is why we took expert advice on the best way to prepare for workers returning after the Christmas break. As a result, we are completing an extensive testing programme - doubling our capacity for random and targeted testing across the entire workforce. This will identify people carrying the virus, even if they don’t show any symptoms. If they test positive, they will be asked to self-isolate in line with Government guidance.

In addition, anyone returning from overseas countries not covered within existing air corridor arrangements will quarantine and be tested before returning to work. All new starters will continue to be tested at our testing centre at Junction 23.

We also know that personal responsibility and reinforcing the right behaviours is paramount. We are continuing to increase our team of “Covid Champions” who are reinforcing safe behaviours whilst communicating to all employees on the importance of Covid safety as they return to work.

Q. Is construction at Hinkley Point C continuing?

A. The safety of our workers and the community is our first priority at Hinkley Point C. The project has robust safe working arrangements in place to prevent the spread of infection whilst enabling construction to continue. 

2020 has given us invaluable experience which is helping us take the necessary action to prevent infection. This includes staggering shifts to avoid congestion and creating separated teams to avoid the risk of infection.

We remain vigilant and are adapting our approach as the pandemic evolves. We will continue to listen to the community and make improvements wherever we can.

The project is deemed by Government as equivalent to a project of critical national importance, as it will play a key role in providing the UK with reliable low-carbon electricity. Alok Sharma, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy wrote an open letter to construction workers, which can be read here, thanking them for their support in this joint national effort.

Q. What steps has the project taken in response to the Coronavirus pandemic?

A. We follow guidance on safe working from industry bodies and the Government, and our performance is regulated by internal safety inspection and an independent regulator. We will continue to adhere to the latest Government advice and will not compromise on safety. Our workforce levels on site are defined by safety and our ability to maintain social distancing. 

A number of strict control measures have been introduced across the project:

• Shift patterns are staggered, start and finish times, breaks and access pinch points are carefully planned and remain tightly controlled to avoid congestion.
• Teams are also in segregated bubbles in offices and out on the construction site to avoid the risk of infection. 
• Face coverings are now mandatory in more situations. This now affects workers moving around inside buildings on the site, in canteens, changing rooms and offices.
• Workers will continue to have their temperature taken before entering the site via thermal imaging cameras (located at the park and ride sites and site entrance). 
• We have our own extensive testing capability, we test all new starters for Coronavirus as well as completing random and targeted testing across the entire workforce.
• We have our own track and trace capability, enforcing self-isolation when appropriate.
• Protective screens have been installed in our canteens and on coaches. 
• Extra buses are in operation to limit the number of passengers, facilitating social distancing, and face coverings are mandatory as they are on public transport in the rest of the country. 
• Bus services for workers are focused on our park and ride sites where social distancing can be enforced, minimising stops in the community.
• Enhanced cleaning of buses, canteens, building handrails, door handles, desks, eating areas, welfare facilities, toilets, is now routine.
• Additional walkways have been introduced to allow travel on foot between construction site buildings – reducing the need for travel on internal buses.
• Meeting rooms have been converted to provide additional areas available for breaks giving extra space.
• Increased information, posters and announcements on-site to remind people to follow the rules.
• Trained "Covid Champions" help to reinforce safe behaviours.
• We are not encouraging a full return to offices for those that have been successfully working from home.

Q. What will be the impact on the local economy?

A. We are conscious that many people in the community depend on Hinkley Point C for their livelihoods. During the peak of the crisis, we continued to support the Somerset businesses that provide the project with transport, catering and accommodation. Life is still far from normal and the pandemic is not over, but getting back to work has many benefits for our suppliers and the jobs they support here in Somerset and beyond.

Q. How are you helping the community? 

A. The project and its contracting partners continue to support the local community, previous donations include:

• Donated supplies to Bridgwater Food Bank ahead of the Christmas break.
• Supported the Bridgwater Shoebox Appeal.
• Donated hundreds of toys at Christmas to the children’s ward at Musgrove Park Hospital.
• Delivered personal protective equipment to NHS (Weston General Hospital in Weston-Super-Mare and Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton).
• Donated personal protective equipment to Children’s Hospice South West.
• Supported Fare Share South West by providing a chiller van to enable food deliveries to vulnerable people throughout the region.
• Delivered 37,000 meals to under pressure workers in smaller NHS facilities like mental health units, community hospitals and care homes.
• Partnered with Somerset Care to provide Hinkley Point C volunteers to undertake tasks such as gardening.
• Provided 1,000 face masks to Devon and Somerset fire and rescue service.

Further information on the measures taken at Hinkley Pont C during the Coronavirus crisis can be found here. 

Q. How are you making decisions?

A. We are continuing to follow Government and Public Health England advice and taking expert advice to protect our workforce and the community. We work under the oversight of our independent regulator, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR). The ONR has inspected the site and has said that control measures in place at Hinkley Point C are appropriate.

We will also continue to work with the trade unions and listen to our workforce and the community.

What construction will take place at Combwich Wharf?

The existing wharf will be refurbished to allow large loads to be brought in by sea. The works will involve removing the existing Transfer Slab Quay, an important part of the abnormal loads quay which will provide the main area in which parts will be offloaded from the barge. The existing slab is being removed to allow new piles to be installed, at a greater depth than previous ones. The piles will be installed using vibrationary and drilling techniques to minimise disturbance to residents.

The refurbishment will enable the large, and often very heavy, pieces of equipment needed to build the new power station to be delivered via Combwich Wharf. 

Can I receive notifications regarding the works taking place at Combwich?

If you would like to receive updates regarding the wharf refurbishment, please send us your email address and name, mentioning the Combwich Wharf Distribution List in your enquiry here. 

Please see the latest progress updates here.

Will lorries travel through Combwich village to get to the wharf?

An existing private road will be used to transport deliveries arriving at the wharf, it leads straight onto the C182.

When will the works take place?

Works have already begun on site with the bulk of construction expected to be completed by Summer 2021.

How is construction noise monitored?

Whilst we make every effort to keep noise disruption to a minimum, noise monitoring, which has been approved by Sedgemoor District Council, is in place. They are notified of any noise exceedances along with our environment team who take necessary action to ensure we are working within our set limits. 

What are the working hours for construction?

Construction activity is permitted to take place between the following times:

Monday to Friday – 0800 to 1900

Saturday – 0800 to 1300

The workforce may complete start-up and shut-down activities outside of these hours.

How often will dredging activities take place?

You can expect to see dredging activities taking place more regularly in the coming years, as the wharf receives an increased number of deliveries.

Do you have any information regarding recent deliveries?

Combwich Wharf has already facilitated a number of deliveries for Hinkley Point C, learn more about the deliveries here:

Main Fuel Tanks 

Tunnel Boring Machine Equipment 

Noise Mitigation 

What funding is available to Combwich residents?  

Funding of £500,000 is available to communities in Combwich.

Here are a few examples of where the monies are already benefiting local residents:

• Combwich Motor Boat and Sailing Club purchased a Cornish gig boat and other associated equipment to support ongoing development of new sporting opportunities in the parish
• Installation of local noticeboards
• Purchase of IT equipment for the local primary school
• Support of Combwich Community Choir

If you have an idea for future projects that could benefit from the funding, you can take it forward via the Otterhampton Parish Council clerk.

Alternatively, if you would like to apply for funding outside the area of Combwich, please contact Somerset Community Foundation.

I have a question about the works, how should I contact you? 

Please visit the contact us page to get in touch and we’ll be happy to help. 

The main phase of works have now begun on the Southern Infrastructure Project. Located just off Shurton Road in Shurton, the works involve building an Emergency Access Road which will join up with the road network on site. A new bridge is also needed over Bum Brook to allow larger emergency vehicles to access site should the main road to the power station (the C182) be unpassable for any reason.

Find out more about the works in a video here.

How long will the works last?

Construction works will continue throughout 2020 with landscaping works due to take place in Winter 2020 / Spring 2021. 

What can local residents expect to see?

With a new road and bridge being built over Bum Brook, the landscape will change. Local residents can expect to see welfare facilities for the workers, construction vehicles in use and materials being delivered to the area.   

We will do our very best to limit noise levels using mitigation and best practice to comply with the thresholds set by Sedgemoor District Council. Noise monitoring stations continue to be in operation to support this.

Can I still use the footpath?

For safety reasons, the usual footpath across the field is currently diverted down Ben Hole Lane where it links bank to the South West Coast Path. Signage is in place to show walkers where to go. We recently undertook some work to improve the underfoot conditions of the diverted path. 

Can I receive notifications regarding the works taking place?

If you would like to receive updates regarding the Southern Infrastructure Project, please send us your email address and name, mentioning the Southern Infrastructure distribution list in your enquiry here.