Hinkley Point C in the local community

The current Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) limit is 500 vehicle movements per day.

What is a vehicle movement defined as?

A one-way journey counts as a single vehicle movement. For example, a HGV travelling from a freight management facility to the Hinkley Point C site constitutes a single vehicle movement. The HGV return journey from site would then count as another vehicle movement.

To help put this into context, approximately 16,000 vehicles are on the A39 south of Cannington every day.

How does this affect EDF Energy’s commitment to move 80% of construction materials by sea?

EDF is committed to delivering 80% of the aggregate materials needed by sea. The jetty is now operational, with each barge delivering the equivalent of 300 lorry loads of aggregate. 

What hours of the day are HGVs allowed to travel to Hinkley Point C?

HGV deliveries are not permitted on the local highway network between the hours of 22:00 and 07:00 (Monday to Saturday), other than in exceptional circumstances agreed with the Somerset authorities. HGVs on the local highway network on Sundays or on public holidays are not permitted.

Will there be HGV movements on a Sunday?

We are not seeking to change the existing permission in relation to Sundays - HGV deliveries on Sundays or public holidays are not permitted.

What is being done to improve transport infrastructure?

Over £20 million of road improvement schemes have already been delivered in Somerset, on the routes to Hinkley Point, leaving a permanent legacy of safer roads.

Recently delivered improvements include:

• Cannington Bypass
• Increasing the width of the highway at the A38 Bristol Road/The Drove junction
• A new left turn slip road to improve operation of the Wylds Road/The Drove Junction
• Upgrades to signal arrangements and carriageway alignment at the A39 Broadway/A38 Taunton Road Junction
• Two new roundabouts at points on the road network that had evidence of frequent accidents

Somerset County Council has also been busy delivering (with our financial contributions of over £8million) additional improvements and initiatives in and around Bridgwater, including walking and cycling improvements.

What accommodation has been built?

Two accommodation campuses have been built as part of the project, one in Bridgwater and one at the Hinkley Point C site, to accommodate workers who move to the area. The Bridgwater campus is the largest of these developments with the site located on part of a former Innovia factory to the north of the A39 (Bath Road).

The campus provides living space and recreational facilities for 986 workers, it is designed with an amenity building which includes a canteen, laundry and gym. One full size and two 5-a-side pitches will also be available on the site for use by our workers and members of the public at certain times. For detail, see table below.

How do I get a job at Sedgemoor or Hinkley Campus?

If you wish to register your interest in opportunities at the campus, please register your interest online. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call a member of the team on 0800 029 4289.  

To see positions currently available, please click here.

How do I book a room at Sedgemoor or Hinkley Campus?

The campuses are for the Hinkley Point C workforce only and are being managed by HOST. To book a room please visit, host-somerset.co.uk.

What will happen with the Sedgemoor Campus site once Hinkley Point C no longer need the accommodation?

After being used for Hinkley Point C, the buildings may be removed but key infrastructure will be maintained for future development. We’ve been working closely with Sedgemoor District Council and the infrastructure we’re developing fits well with their long-term plans for Bridgwater.

Aren’t the workers going to cause problems?

We don’t expect them to. They will be working hard when on shift and we have provided comprehensive facilities, including sports pitches and welfare facilities, to allow space to relax and wind-down when not working.

Additionally, all of our workers have to sign up to our code of conduct and we expect them to comply with this. If they don’t, we will take action. We have also developed comprehensive plans to support our workers and neighbouring communities to ensure there is successful integration. The police have additional resource and Sedgemoor District Council have been funded to have an extensive package of community support. You can find out more by contacting Kristy Blackwell at the Together Team on 01278 435216.

What are you doing with all the other land you own nearby?

We’re responsibly managing the land we’ve acquired, including Sydenham Manor, the listed building we own. It’s probable that land not required for the Hinkley Point C temporary campus will be sold for residential and commercial development, and we’ll continue to work with the Council to align with their long-term plans where possible for this area. Our core business is producing low carbon electricity.

Will we receive any compensation for the inconvenience that the works on Bath Road and the grass verge have caused?

We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience that these works have caused. There are a number of ways in which this inconvenience is addressed:

1. If you feel your property has reduced in value as a direct result of the works being carried out, there are legal protections available to you. You should seek independent legal advice on this matter.

2. Community Funds totalling £20million have been established to mitigate the impact of the Hinkley Point C project on the local community. Please visit hpcfunds.co.uk to understand how these funds can benefit your area. It is important to note that individuals cannot bid for money but this will need to be done by an established community group, local authority or charity.

3. Funds have already been granted to support the Sydenham Together project and to enhance Coronation Park.

4. HOST is the joint venture who manages the campus and they have outlined the following times and prices for the community use of the sports facilities:

To book, or for further information, please email Hinkley Leisure at info@hinkleyleisure.com.

5. HOST are recruiting local residents to work as an integral part of the team to manage and operate the campus. There will be training and career opportunities as part of this.

Has the development affected the flood risk in the area?

The new drainage plan, which has been designed with and approved by the relevant authorities, has reduced the flood risk to the area.

The drainage arrangements are split into two areas: A. the area of the new campus, and B. the area of the new roadways

A. The area of the campus largely extends over the former Innovia site which had a significant amount of impermeable landscaping draining. The campus drainage has been designed to link in with the drainage masterplan for the area and catch storm water hitting impermeable surfaces such as roads and roofs and allowing it to drain into a new rhyne. This rhyne is 800m long and extends nearly half the circumference of the site. This new storage rhyne pumps out to the wider rhyne network.

B. The drainage system that has been approved for the roadways employs a 40m-long storage tank and a flow control devise, storing and slowly letting water into the combined sewer in the Bath Road.

Why is the bus stop so large and the grass verge so small?

The original plans provided for an on-carriageway bus stop. However, Bath Road is the A39 and is the main arterial route into Bridgwater from the east. There is therefore a need to ensure that traffic is not held up when buses are setting down and picking up passengers. There is also a risk that the operation of the junction would be impacted if the bus stop were kept on carriageway.

The bus stop has been designed with dimensions sufficient to enable vehicles to exit the A39 and decelerate in a safe manner prior to coming to a stop. The layout also enables buses to be kept clear of the running carriageway to ensure they do not interrupt the flow of traffic on the A39. The exit taper has been designed to enable buses to merge safely on to the A39.

There is also a need to ensure that facilities for all road users are provided for when new junctions are provided. These facilities must be designed with all road users in mind, including less confident cyclists. Where possible, off road cycle facilities should be provided and a width of 3.5m is recommended to provide for an effective separation between cyclists and pedestrians.

The scheme was therefore adjusted to incorporate these items resulting in the verge being reduced and the hard standing being increased.