Kingston Seymour Residents Voice Strong Opposition to Nuclear Plant’s Saltmarsh Proposals

Plans to convert 1,500 acres of land into a saltmarsh, intended to offset the environmental consequences of a nuclear power station, are facing opposition from campaigners. EDF Energy has stated that its proposed cooling system for Hinkley Point C is projected to result in the ingestion and death of 44 tonnes of fish annually. To mitigate this effect, the company suggests establishing a substantial saltmarsh at one of four potential locations along the River Severn, with one site situated close to Kingston Seymour in North Somerset. However, residents in the area describe the idea of “destroying one habitat to create another” as a “horrifying” notion, asserting that it would eliminate agricultural land and consequently impact local livelihoods. EDF maintains that it is “obliged to make environmental improvements” alongside the power station’s construction. The company contends that these new marshlands would offer secure environments for aquatic and terrestrial wildlife, enhance water quality, and diminish the likelihood of localized flooding. The company indicated that it is still “exploring options,” potentially involving the creation of “pockets” of saltmarsh across various sites. Claire Stuckey, whose farming family has resided in Kingston Seymour for generations, expressed concern that if the saltmarsh were established near their property, its proximity would “render the farming business unviable.” Ms Stuckey stated, “It’s completely unrealistic, and actually inhumane. How you can propose to take someone’s land and effectively cease their livelihood? People have got their life savings invested in businesses, from camping and tourism, to farming and agriculture. There’s a huge amount of anxiety around this proposal. People can’t live their day-to-day lives, it’s a constant worry that’s hanging over us.” Ms Stuckey further noted that beyond the impact on businesses, the local landscape and existing habitats would likely face difficulties adapting to such a transformation. She highlighted that the Severn Estuary possesses the world’s second-highest tidal range, reaching up to 15m (49ft). Ms Stuckey questioned, “The question is, can you create saltmarsh? Or will it be just be silty, muddy and unusable land, that actually is probably quite dangerous?” She affirmed, “We’re absolutely going to fight this. We’re going to enable and empower everyone to have a voice. We will react as a community.” Dave, Kathrin, and Seb Kirk, who have resided in Kingston Seymour for seven years, have established multiple enterprises on their property, including a campsite and two holiday cottages. Mr. Kirk described the initial notification of EDF’s proposals as feeling like an “ambush.” He stated, “They were talking of compulsory surveys within 10-15 days. It feels like an attack. I’m devastated at the prospect of it, it’s horrendous.” Mrs. Kirk expressed concern that if the saltmarsh plans proceed, the habitats of all animals inhabiting their land, such as buzzards and barn owls, would be eradicated. Seb Kirk, who anticipates inheriting his family’s land in the future, characterized the proposals as an “attack” on his prospects. He remarked, “It feels like a potential chance to make a lot of money from this area and enjoy my life has just been stripped away.” Andrew Cockcroft, EDF’s head of stakeholder relations, stated that he “understood concerns” and confirmed that the company is investigating multiple possibilities for the saltmarshes. He explained, “We need to create a certain area of saltmarsh habitat and that may be in one area, it may be a mixture of the different areas we’re looking at. That depends on the environment of the land we’re surveying and exploring at the moment. It’s really important for us as we move anything forward, if we do, to try and co-create so we can create a habitat that’s good for nature but is also good for people as well.” For updates, follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Story ideas can be submitted via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available for review.