Meeting Report

Regarding: Date: EDF Energy Hinkley Point C: Transport 1 February 2018 Forum

Participating: Jim Claydon Chair Aly Prowse Parish Allan Beasley Cannington Parish Council Council Bob Birkenhead Otterhampton Parish Leigh Redman Town Council Council Malcolm Reid Parish Council Ann Bown District Council Anne Reed Parish Council Alan Bradford Town CouncIl Jim Ridout Parish Council James Brereton Cannington Parish Council John Vassalli Parish Council Dave Catlier Otterhampton Parish Council Rosemary Woods West Council Ryan Clarke Avon & Somerset Police Doug Bamsey Sedgemoor District Council Gordon Coldwell Observer Anne Fraser Sedgemoor District Council Julie Cooper Somerset District Council John Vassalli Durleigh Parish Council Andy Coupé Richard Cuttell W.H.A.G Richard Curtis Parish Council Hugh Davies Somerset County Council Peter Downing Sedgemoor District Council EDF Energy Team: Julie Evans Otterhampton Parish Council David Eccles EDF Energy Anne Fraser Sedgemoor District Council Mark Lewis EDF Energy Sue Goss West Somerset Council Andrew Wagstaff EDF Energy Sam Harper Sedgemoor District Council John Bower EDF Energy Steve Hembury Observer Isaac Casson Newgate Linda Hyde North Petherton Town Council Andrew Jones Somerset County Council Chris Jones Avon & Somerset Fire and Rescue Apologies: Esther Lawson Avon & Somerset Police Tony Perrett Williton Parish Council Barry Leathwood Otterhampton Parish Bill Vaughan Williton Parish Council Council Liz Leyshon Somerset County Council Rob Morgan Cannington Parish Council Gary Perrett Hinkley Community Cyclists John Sivyer Parish Meeting Carol Slaymaker Nether Stowey Parish Council

Item Action 1. Introductions, Minutes and Matters Arising 1.1 Jim Claydon (JC) welcomed everyone and asked attendees to introduce themselves.

1.2 The minutes of the meeting held on 6 July 2017 was approved by attendees.

Item Action

1.3 Alan Hurford (AH) clarified that, under 1.5 of the previous minutes, that it was he who

asked the question on the proposed cycling footway from Sedgemoor Campus, as opposed to Alan Beasley. This has been amended.

2. Project Progress 2.1 A film was shown outlining recent activity from the Hinkley Point C project. DE provided an update on associated developments:

 The jetty is due to be completed at the end of 2018 and fully operational at the middle of 2019;  The wharf at Combwich will start construction at the end of 2018 and be operational by 2020;

 J23 signalisation has been installed and completed ahead of schedule;  J23 Park & Ride has been completed and will be formally opened next week;  Talks are underway with Somerset County Council regarding the next phase of improvements to Bristol Rd/Wylds Rd junction;  Letters will be issued shortly to residents around Frederick Road, outlining specific details regarding the permanent closure of Frederick Road by the end of March;

2.2 Rosemary Woods (RW) asked how many of the 3,000 members of the workforce currently on site, are from and living in West Somerset.

2.3 Leigh Redman (LR) asked how quickly the operation of the jetty would remove the requirement for the extension of the HGV vehicle cap. DE stated that the initial operation of the jetty would be gradual, and therefore slowly reduce numbers of HGVs. Mark Lewis (ML) added that the current increase in the HGV cap would only have effect until the jetty becomes fully operational or 30 September 2019, whichever is earliest.

2.4 Leigh Redman (LR) asked for clarity on planned improvements for the Bristol Rd/Wylds Rd junction. DE stated that Somerset County Council and EDF Energy were in discussions about design options to improve the junction, but any scheme would need to come under the permissions allocated in the Development Consent Order (DCO).

2.5 Ann Bown asked what monitoring procedures are in place for traffic on J23, following the opening of the P&R. AFTERNOTE: The operation of the Dunball and J23 Roundabouts was assessed in the Transport Assessment which accompanied the Development Consent Order Application and the improvements had been designed to mitigate the development impact.

2.6 Richard Cuttell (RC) stated that he still witnessed HGVs bunched up shortly after leaving HPC. John Bower (JB) noted that HGVs may bunch when they approach traffic and the construction of the Southern Plaza, opening in Summer, will help alleviate the problem.

2.7 JB stated that the Freight Management Centre (FMC) at J23 will be open next week. He confirmed that HGV movements associated with HPC will continue to be subject to the following limits: • a one day maximum limit of 450 movements on HGV Route 1 (via J23); and • a one day maximum limit of 300 HGV movements on HGV Route 2 (via J24).

2.8 Gary Perrett (GP) stated that the buses used to transport workers to site are going to increase in line with the workforce and already stop too often, causing traffic to build. Andrew Wagstaff (AW) noted that there are new initiatives within Somerset Passenger

Item Action Solutions (SPS) to reduce stops and slowly integrate point to point delivery. A gradual reduction in stops is a priority. AW emphasised that drivers are instructed not to stop at unofficial places, and encouraged attendees to report instances in the usual manner. AB asked for a list of designated stopping sites, so that local residents know when to report incidents. AFTERNOTE: SPS are permitted to stop at all designated local authority stops on the routes that they operate under the Development Consent Order; the local authority websites will provide this information specific to certain areas.

2.9 LR raised the disturbance reported by residents from early bus pickups in residential areas. AW stated that buses will only stop if a passenger is at the stop and drivers are instructed not to leave their engines idling.

2.10 Sue Goss (SG) asked for an update on the installation of new passenger tracking software on HPC buses. From May/June this software will be retrofitted to all buses, and will be installed on new buses arriving during the same period.

3. Brief Summary of Workshop Discussions 3.1 Jim Claydon (JC) provided a brief summary of the presentations made by the Quantock Cluster Group and Stogursey Parish Council on local highway issues.

3.2 A comprehensive addendum is attached to these minutes with a reply from EDF Energy and Somerset County Council on all of the highways issues raised in these presentations.

4. Updated Information on Transport Matters 4.1 JB stated that there was an average of 360 HGV movements (180 deliveries) throughout January. 220 movements of passenger buses were recorded throughout the same period.

5. Relationship between Transport Review Group and Transport Forum 5.1 LR sought clarification on the role of the Transport Forum following the decision to temporarily vary the average cap for HGV movements from an average of 500 movements per day in any given quarter to an average of up to 750 movements per day in any given quarter for a temporary period until the jetty is fully operational or 30 September 2019, whichever is earlier. LR noted that the decision to was taken by the Transport Review Group (TRG) without any input from or consultation with the Transport Forum. DE referred to the Terms of Reference for the Transport Forum which he noted envisaged a two-way passage of information, whereby updates can be given directly to local community by representatives from EDF Energy. DE explained that detailed negotiations had been held on the HGV cap with officers from Highways , SCC, WSC and SDC and that local councillors had been briefed as part of the decision making process. However, with hindsight, a meeting on this topic could have been held with the Transport Forum. Andy Coupe (AC) noted that change was likely to be a feature of the project and there was an opportunity to engage the Transport Forum on the direction of future changes. He explained the decision making process that had been followed. JC stated that the role of the Transport Forum is not as a decision making body, but it should be invited to comment on changes to the project. DE finalised by saying that lessons will be learned on how to better engage communities going forwards. 5.2 JC stated that an extraordinary Transport Forum could be called to discuss the details of the planned improvement works at Bristol Rd/Wylds Road.

Item Action 5. Subjects for Next Meeting 5.1 The subject for the next workshop will focus on the proposed improvements to the Quantock Road Roundabout, primarily for pedestrians and cyclists. This will be led by Somerset County Council.

6. Any other business 6.1 Richard Cuttell raised the issue of HGVs using the laybys on the C182. AC said that the opening of the Freight Management Centre at Dunball should remove the need for drivers to take rest breaks on public laybys and should therefore alleviate the problem. JB reiterated that HGV drivers are paid per movement and there is therefore no incentive to take a break when not required to do so by law.

6.2 SG asked what plans are in place to repair and reopen some of the laybys on the C182. AC stated that remedial work is due to take place when the water subsides.

7. Date of the Next Meeting 7.1 The date of the next Forum is Thursday 3 May 2018 at Village Hall.