Meeting Report

Regarding: Date: EDF Energy Hinkley Point C: Transport Forum 1 August 2019

Participating: Jim Claydon, Chair Doug Bamsey, District Council Hugh Davies, County Council John Burton, Somerset West and Taunton Council Sam Harper, Sedgemoor District Council Mike Blissett, Sedgemoor District Council

Esther Lawson, Avon & Somerset Police EDF Energy Team: Erland Plomeren, Holford Parish Council Tristan Brooks, Go-Surveys Gary Perrett, Sustrans / Community Cyclists Andrew Wagstaff, EDF Energy Deborah Bunce, Town Council Brian Buckingham, EDF Energy Rob Morgan, Cannington Parish Council Immy Silby, EDF Energy Andy Coupé David Eccles, EDF Energy Sue Goss, Stogursey Parish Council Drew Aspinwall, Newgate Communications

Richard Cuttell, West Hinkley Action Group Apologies: Robin Kinaham, Parish Council Mark Walton, Kilve Parish Council Andrew Darch, Parish Council Leigh Redman, Somerset County Council Lindsey Parsons, Otterhampton & Combwich Parish Council Anne Reed, Wembdon Parish Council Liz Leyshon, County Councillor for Glastonbury & Street Mike Caswell, Sedgemoor District Council Ann Bown, Somerset County Council

Item Action 1 Introductions 1.1 Jim Claydon (‘The Chair’) welcomed everyone and asked attendees to introduce themselves. The Chair made reference to potential new attendees or those who may be representing different bodies. 2 Minutes and Matters Arising 2.1 The Chair made reference to the comprehensive set of minutes from 9 May 2019 and said that the intention was to make these meeting notes more concise going forward, to reflect the key points of the meeting. He encouraged the forum members to make their points / questions clearly in order to facilitate this. 2.2 The minutes of the meeting held on 9 May 2019 were reviewed. .

Under 5.4 “Bath Road” needs to be amended to read “Quantock Road” in the final note. Members were satisfied with Afternotes supplied for 2.1 and 4.2. Afternote 4.6 regarding bus usage would be picked up under Item 4 as part of TRG presentation. Afternote 5.7 Andy Coupé (AC) had brought to the meeting a large scale plan of the Greenway Garage Junction and was happy to take any questions about it at the meeting Item 6.1 – AC reported that new signage is now in place along the C182. John Burton (JB) clarified that the name of the new authority is Somerset West & Taunton Council. The meeting note was then approved.

3 Project Progress 3.1 David Eccles (DE) gave a presentation running through recent project highlights including completion of the base for the first reactor, known as “J-zero” which was celebrated in June. The key points were:

 J-zero included a 9,000m final concrete pour which set a new UK record for the largest continuous concrete pour.  The third Tunnel Boring Machine, Beatrice, was delivered to Combwich Wharf  Unit 2 Nuclear Island is progressing at pace as lessons are learned from the construction of Unit 1.  The roof has been lifted on top of Bunker 5. This is where parts of the reactor liner for both Units will be prefabricated.  Inside Bunker 5. Most of the welding activities are completed in advance in weatherproof conditions; a great example of a lesson learnt from Flamanville

DE then introduced 2 short films:

 A film showing progress on site up to the J-zero milestone  A short film detailing the socio-economic benefits within the local community

Brian Buckingham (BB) gave a brief update on progress / usage of the Jetty and the Harbour Authority. The key points were:  Jetty is managed by HPC Harbour Authority  First delivery happened 26 July 2019  Almost daily discharge operations until end of construction  Used for aggregate and marine sand for concrete production  Backfill material delivery opportunity  1.3 million tonnes of aggs from Whatley by rail/ship  Takes 52,000 HGVs off the road

Hugh Davies (HD) asked what will happen to the Tunnel Boring Machines at the end of construction. DE said that they will remain in situ. Richard Cuttell (RC) asked about the permitted heights of the spoil heaps and DE said an afternote would be provided (see below).

AFTERNOTE: The stockpiles on site can be up to +45m AOD either side of the Holford Culvert. In January 2019, West Somerset Council approved permission for stockpiles this high pursuant to DCO Requirement MS6 which relates to all stockpiles which are to be in situ for more than 1 year on the HPC site. The previously approved height was +35m AOD and for comparison purposes the highest part of the Southern landscaped area is at a height of +35m AOD. RC also asked about backfill and it was confirmed that HPC use as much from site as possible. Sue Goss (GS) asked BB about how many barges were expected to use the jetty. BB said it is 1 a day on average. Jetty would be fully operational by the end of September. Gary Perrett (GP) welcomed the shift to using the jetty but highlighted the number of HGV movements still taking place. DE confirmed that it was still 250 in / 250 out daily.

4 Update from Transport Review Group (TRG)

Tristan Brooks (TB) clarified from the previous meeting (9 May ’19 Afternote 4.6) that the 2- way bus movements on a typical day (24 hrs) on the A39 to the east and west of Cannington were: A39 east of Cannington – 432 / A39 west of Cannington – 117.

TB then presented the TRG Quarterly Report Summary – a copy of which will accompany this meeting note for information.

There was a discussion regarding the figures and the methodology of the report.

Andy Coupé (AC) confirmed that the figures were consistent with last month, with a few more movements on Saturdays due to the recent J-zero activity. AC added that the standard of reporting to TRG was very good, and the willingness of EDF Energy to take action and amend processes accordingly as a result of the reporting and discussions at TRG should be acknowledged.

There have been some changes made to the booking system to stop HGVs being overbooked and there will be a change to the monitoring system in coming months. It was highlighted that out of 26,000 movement only 14 were categorised as ‘non-compliant’.

Doug Bamsey (DB) highlighted that the recent M5 closure would have had an impact on deliveries.

Erland Plomeren (EP) asked if HPC provide funds for buses. Andrew Wagstaff (AW) said there are plenty of examples of HPC helping the community and suggested he get in touch.

5 Updated information on Transport Matters (including Bristol Road / Wylds Road scheme)

5.1 Update on Bristol Road / Wylds Road improvement works

DE noted that these improvement works were required through the Development Consent Order (DCO) and it was originally envisaged that they would take four months to complete. He

advised that EDF Energy had been working on the details of the plans for some time.

However, due to the existence of extensive utilities apparatus, in particular BT, EDF had revised that projection to 24 months.

As HGV route one passes through the area where the works would be undertaken and the project was approaching peak construction, he advised that EDF Energy proposed to delay conducting the works until the peak transport period was over.

AC clarified that EDF had initiated this formally through the due process with local authorities

detailed in the S106 agreement in connection with a change to the HPC Implementation Plan. This involved providing technical details to Sedgemoor District Council, Somerset West and

Taunton Council and Somerset County Council.

EDF Energy would then have to take into account any reasonable representations from those

Councils before determining the appropriate course of action. AC noted that EDF had latterly provided details of the proposal also to Town Council and invited comments to be submitted directly to EDF Energy and through the District/ County Councils. In the meanwhile, Sedgemoor District Council and Somerset County Council had submitted a joint interim response to request further information from EDF Energy before they could provide their reasonable representations.

EDF Energy had replied to advise that it would pause the period for the provision of the Councils reasonable representations which would be restarted after its response to the request for further information had been provided, thereby ensuring that all parties had sufficient time to make any representations as per the Section 106 agreement. 5.2 AC then gave a update on:

Safety works during the summer:

• A38 Taunton Road Safety Schemes(29 July - 16 August) • Elmwood Avenue and Rhode Lane • Pedestrian island and other safety improvements

• Rhode Lane entrance temporary closure • Wills Road (1 ½ weeks) • If A38 schemes completed on time

• New pedestrian island on Taunton Road • Wills Road entrance temporary closure • Albert Street / Broadway (27 August - 17 September)

• Central island reconstructions and other safety improvements • Albert Street entrance temporary closure • Lane restrictions and temporary lights on Broadway

Update on laybys:

• Bolham Road layby

• Temporarily closed except for access

• Repair to consist of: • Ditch to be dug in layby ‘island’, cutting of grips

• Grading lose material and replenishing as required

• Enforceable prohibition on HGVs (agricultural vehicles excluded) • To be scheduled when possible within works programme: 2-3 months • Plan for future maintenance

• C182 ‘road’ is the priority • Maintenance to repair verge-overrun damage

GP welcomed the schemes where improvements will be made for cyclists and offered up the Community Cyclists group as a resource developing schemes with a view to adding value and helping make schemes as safe as possible. GP requested that the group be a consultee

ahead of planning submissions.

Mike Caswell (MC) asked GP to use his influence to encourage cyclists to use the facilities that are already in place. GP said he had in the past and would again. 5.3 Rob Morgan (RM) requested more information on the timescales for Greenway Garage junction / A39 works.

AFTERNOTE: AC provided the following afternote: The works are due to be completed by around mid -September to coincide with opening of the petrol filling station.

Andrew Darch (AD) raised concerns about Biffin’s Corner on the C182 Otterhampton. AC referred to discussions previously led through the Parish Council with the local landowner that had proved unsuccessful to investigate the potential to improve the visibility splay by undertaking works on third party land. As an alternative, SCC was proposing to install a vehicle activated sign to warn drivers on the C182 of the presence of the junction.

6 Any other business

MC raised trade vans on HPC business were not using the Cannington bypass. DE encouraged forum members to capture the VRN of any such vehicles so they can be investigated. If they are on HPC business they can be spoken to. However, DE pointed out that local contractors could be easily working on other jobs in the area.

AC point clarified that designated routes apply to HGV construction works traffic.

SG asked if the bus stop outside Burton Springs Fishery would remain if the planning permission for the camp site changed. DE confirmed if the permission for workers to stay there was removed, the bus stop would be also.

SG thanked: the site ops team for keeping the C182 largely clear; AW for the community minibus and for EDF rationalising the number of bus stops.

7 Dates of futures meetings

The forum agreed that the next meeting should take place in Wembdon Village Hall (The

Green at Wembdon) if possible. Drew Aspinwall (DA) would follow this up.

The Chair raised that the next Community Forum at the start of August would be rescheduled

due to low attendance and this would impact the sequencing of the next Transport Forum. It was therefore prosed that the next Transport Forum takes place on Thursday 21 November 2019 at 6pm subject to the venue being available. (DA to action).

AFTERNOTE: The Green at Wembdon has been booked for Thursday 21 November, starting at 6pm. Full venue details are: The Green at Wembdon, Homberg Way, Wembdon, Bridgwater, TA6 7BY.

In line with these changes, a note will be circulated to the local authorities for their input into the frequency and futures dates of the forums before the next set of meeting dates are announced.

Meeting ended.