By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
EDF’s controversial plans for saltmarshes linked to Hinkley C nuclear power plant should cease immediately.
That is the view of Gloucestershire County Council’s Conservative leader Stephen Davies (Hardwicke and Severn) who has written to energy, security and net zero secretary Ed Miliband expressing his opposition to the schemes.
Bosses at the French-government owned energy firm have been severely criticised for their environmental improvement plans by residents in Rodley near Westbury-on-Severn and Arlingham on the other side of the river.
Their original plan for Hinkley Point in Somerset was to install an acoustic fish deterrent system to scare fish away from the site as the Bristol Channel is home to numerous species such as eels, herring, salmon and sprats.
However, EDF feel this will no longer be viable and have instead drawn up alternative plans to create salt marshes along the River Severn.
They have identified the two Gloucestershire sites along with Kingston Seymour in Somerset, Littleton Upon Severn in South Gloucestershire as areas for salt marshes.
And they have been in touch with landowners. But villagers strongly oppose the proposals which they fear will destroy the Severn Vale.
Cllr Davies says in the letter, which has not been signed by the other group leaders at GCC, that the authority welcomes the Government’s commitment to delivering net zero.
But he expressed significant concerns regarding the scale of the impact the nuclear power station will have on the migratory fish population in the Severn Estuary special area of conservation which will result from the massive water abstraction at Hickley Point C of 120,000 litres of seawater a second from the Severn for 60 years.
He believes this will be made significantly worse by their intention to remove the required acoustic fish deterrent system at the plant.
And is concerned over the significant impact the emerging salt marsh proposals would have as it would see hundreds of acres of farmland lost.
“This would not only include farmland, but also farms, houses, businesses, roads, footpaths, heritage assets, etc.
“EDF representatives have already confirmed to local residents that they would use compulsory purchase orders in future if need be as well as currently attempting to access privately-owned land for ecological surveys.”
Cllr Davies calls for the acoustic fish deterrent to be installed as originally planned and for appropriate ecological compensation be delivered to address the impact on the Severn Estuary. He is also calling for EDF to be instructed to immediately cease plans to create the new salt marshes along the Severn.
Campaign group Save our Severn Vale do not believe that the proposed location of a saltmarsh in either Rodley or Arlingham is viable from a salinity perspective or compensatory habitat when looking at the species EDF say they want to save.
“We believe that the risks involved in destroying the habitat we currently have including the productive farmland, nature, trees, hedgerows, pastures, leisure and floodplains are far too great when weighed against the possible benefits which are modelled on a project in an entirely different part of the estuary.
“This is ecocide in the name of carbon offset and carbon trading and must be stopped.”
EDF say they are required to make environmental improvements which include the creation of new saltmarsh habitats to mitigate the impact of Hinkley Point C’s operation.
They say their broader environmental plans also include improving weirs in the Severn and Usk rivers to help migrating fish reach their breeding grounds.
“Creating saltmarsh is a proven way to increase and protect biodiversity. It will help fish by providing breeding grounds, food and shelter. It will also provide benefits for birds and animals.
“Saltmarsh also filters and cleans water, prevents floods and locks away carbon in one of our most effective weapons in the fight against climate change.
“As seen in other locations such as at the Steart Marshes in Somerset, saltmarsh can also be an excellent environment for people to get closer to nature and explore the outdoors.
“We understand that community involvement is crucial for the success of this project. Over the coming weeks, we will be conducting exploratory surveys to better understand the existing land and environment better. These surveys will help refine our proposals, which will be included in a planning application submitted in late 2025.
“We are committed to keeping our local impact to an absolute minimum and will continue to engage with the community as our work progresses. Detailed plans will also be presented in a local consultation early next year, where we can better understand your views and address any potential concerns.”