THE village which has the Hinkley C construction site on its doorstep feels EDF is not going far enough in its measures to combat the coronavirus.

On Tuesday (March 24), EDF announced that it would be looking to halve its on-site workforce to around 2,000 to continue construction of the plinths upon which the station’s twin reactors will stand, and enable better implementation of social distancing measures.

However Chris Morgan, the chairman of Stogursey Parish Council, whose village neighbours the new nuclear power station site, said residents were becoming 'increasingly concerned'.

In a letter to EDF, Cllr Morgan writes: "Residents of the parish are increasingly concerned that HPC contractors temporarily housed in the area, especially the village, are continuing to travel cross country to visit family at weekends, and then returning.

"Many of them travelling to their homes in South Wales and the West Midlands - currently Covid-19 hotspots."

Cllr Morgan states the in light of the latest guidance from the government regarding unnecessary travel and the potential spread of the virus, this position was 'unacceptable and unsustainable'.

He continues: "Although we accept that HPC is a nationally important infrastructure project, it is time that the health and well-being of our residents, plus those similarly affected throughout the wider area, are given priority over a construction site, however important."

"Stogursey Parish Council look forward to a positive response from Hinkley C, in the light of the total shut down of Hinkley A and vastly reduced workforce at Hinkley B."

However the MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset Ian Liddell-Grainger said EDF's measures were 'the right move'.

Mr Liddell-Grainger said: “I have been getting a lot of calls from local families inquiring about the wisdom of maintaining such a large cluster of people working closely together without any real possibility of implementing social distancing – either on the actual site itself or in the canteens and hostels, or in the buses carrying staff in and out.

“Because there is such a large workforce drawn from such a large area those concerns have extended beyond the immediate vicinity and are now being voiced across a wide area of the county.

“I am grateful EDF has taken this decision. We all know the national importance of this huge project but at a time like this we have to put health concerns first.

“Lost time can be recovered: lost lives cannot.”