Kingston Seymour Parish Council

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Hinkley Point – Saltmarsh Proposals – Repository of Information

Hinkley Point – Saltmarsh Proposals

On the 9th September 2024, our parish learned that EDF – the builders of the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station – were looking at areas of the Kingston Seymour parish (and the adjacent Clevedon) to create areas of saltmarsh.

This page will be a repository for documents which relate to this activity and for the information of parishioners and others.

The latest items are at the top.

There is also a link to a repository of documents produced by (and curated by) EDF that are too large to load directly onto this website.   This is under the entry for the 23rd October 2024.   Please scroll down for more.

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16th June 2026

Please see the following statement from Mike Sewell, Chair of the Parish Council

Provided below is a link to recent YouTube article which is corroborated by a Times newspaper article last week that despite the EDF acoustic fish detection tests proceeding very well, Natural England as one of the independent regulators looks to be taking a position that still further environmental mitigation will be required for Hinkley Point.
Looking into this further there does not look to be any support from Government or EDF for this, as there is a strong desire to get Hinkley Point C online to help achieve the governments 2030 green energy commitments.
We have as a parish council demanded an urgent meeting with Natural England including both Tess Munt our MP and North Somerset Council, because this continued uncertainty is not fair on our rural community where this issue continues to have a detrimental effect in so many ways.
We will keep you updated on the progress of our discussions. Tessa is working closely with us on this to make sure the meeting happens quickly. We will share any updates received as we continue to push for the much expected hard stop to the EDF / Hinkley Point Salt Marsh plans
Mike Sewell, Chair, Kingston Seymour Parish Council
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16th May 2025

Please see the following statement from Mike Sewell, Chair of the Parish Council

Earlier this week the Parish Council was contacted by the Sunday Times in relation to an article they are preparing on how the development of major infrastructure projects, such as Hinkley point, are affecting communities, particularly with the governments drive to net zero emissions.

This led to a very hastily arranged visit by their Science Editor, Ben Spencer, who visited the village for an hour on Tuesday having already visited Hinkley Point and WWT Steart Marshes to meet me to better understand the effect that EDF’s Saltmarsh plans have had and could have on our community.

During these discussions Ben shared that he had recently had a meeting with Natural England where they were expressing some concerns with regards to the results coming out of the EDF Acoustic Fish Deterrent (AFD) tests which have currently placed all previous EDF plans re Saltmarsh creation in our community on a hard pause as we confirmed in March this year.

We have no official feedback on these tests and do not expect further feedback from EDF before an arranged meeting in September, we have however asked EDF for an update, but nothing received yet.

EDF have previously made it clear that their worst-case position even if their AFD trials are not successful is that they do not consider saltmarsh, to the scale proposed, proportionate and that even if they had to revisit this issue their approach would be quite different. Any future works would have to be by local agreement only.

We expect the Sunday Times article to be published this weekend (Sunday 18 May 25), we have not seen it and will of course follow up on any issues raised outside those we expect to see.

We will continue to liaise with EDF and all relevant parties to monitor the progress of the AFD trials to ensure that the saltmarsh issues we have experienced do not resurrect or repeat.

Mike Sewell, Chair, Kingston Seymour Parish Council

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4th March 2025

A MOMENTOUS DAY!  A statement from the Chairman of Kingston Seymour Parish Council

Yesterday I attended a call with EDF and today I have received confirmation of the following:

  1. EDF is halting the development of any saltmarsh mitigation for Hinkley Point.
  2. They have sourced what looks to be an effective Acoustic Fish Deterrent (AFD) solution that is maintainable and are now entering into comprehensive tests for the rest of 2025.
  3. They are writing to landowners and the press from today confirming that they are introducing a pause on all activity and revoking their section 172 compulsory access rights from 31 Mar 25. In addition, all wildlife survey data collected will be provided to our community.
  4. EDF have made it clear that their worst-case position even if their AFD trials are not successful is that they don’t consider salt marsh, to the scale proposed, proportionate and that even if they had to revisit this issue in 12 months’ time their approach would be very different. Any future works would have to be by local agreement only.

I have provided below a copy of the correspondence that EDF have issued today. Here (PDF opens in a new window)  Although covering their position with a ‘Hard Pause’, EDF are clear they prefer the alternate AFD proposal, it is a proven technology and they expect trials to be successful given the proven nature of the solution.

This is good news for our village and the wider community.  The last few months since September 2024 have been very trying ones for us all, hopefully this decision by EDF will allow our community to move on and put this episode behind us.

We will of course continue to liaise with EDF and monitor the progress of their AFD trials to ensure that this issue does not resurrect or repeat itself.

Mike Sewell,  Kingston Seymour Parish Council

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16th February 2025

An update from Mike Sewell, Chair of the Kingston Seymour Parish Council:

EDF and Saltmarsh
Since our last communication in January we have met further with both the Environment Agency (EA) and EDF to understand the current status of EDF’s review into the need for Saltmarsh as an environmental mitigation for Hinkley Point C in Kingston Seymour and the EA’s view on both this and future shore management to ensure our sea defences continue to protect us both now and in the future.
In summary:
EDF Status
1) Proposed Government Planning Reforms – The creation of a Strategic Nature Recovery Fund, EDF sees as a positive action because it allows large schemes like Hinkley Point C to put money into a pot which can then be spent where it is best needed in the UK. This is at least 12 months away from a legislation perspective but gives the potential for EDF to invest outside the Severn Estuary
2) Acoustic Fish Deterrent (AFD) – This is back on the table, there are very real alternatives which look to address EDF Health and Safety concerns. A lot of feasibility work is being done on this by EDF now to verify the viability of this.
3) Other Alternatives – These are still being looked at, EDF is keen that anything they do should be voluntarily bought into because it makes sense in any community.
4) Timelines – EDF are a minimum of two months away from knowing their next steps. If AFD is the outcome this could close everything down with EDF, there would be no need to consult with us because there would be no Salt Marsh proposed.
5) Insurance Issues – EDF are aware some in our community are having issues renewing policies at sensible prices and are happy to provide a community wide letter of reassurance re their plans, in supplement to the communication we have previously shared from the Environment Agency.
EA View
1) Options – There are options to mitigate Hinkley Point C operation, salt marsh is not the only game in town, AFD is very much an alternative as are other community needed investments.
2) View on EDF approach – The EA feel EDF have been incredibly bullish in their initial approach, this is not how they would manage such an engagement. They are pleased EDF have paused and are looking at alternatives.
3) Future Shore Management – The EA recognise that beyond the Hinkley Point C challenge we need a long-term discussion on shoreline management, they see this as a 10 year + engagement before anything would happen for which the strengthening of our current sea defences is an option.
North Somerset Levels Action Group
• To assist EDF in their review of options, the Action Group has worked hard to prepare a report (led by Claire Stuckey, Tania Kinane & Mike Gorham) supported by many in the community for which the Parish Council would like to thank them for their sterling work. This report and supporting appendices address the issues as to why EDF’s salt marsh proposals make no sense in Kingston Seymour and why alternative environmental solutions to allow EDF Hinkley Point C to operate must be sought.
• The report is below.   This report has been shared with EDF and all our local major stakeholders including MP’s, District Councillors and the EA.
Hopefully, you can see that a lot has happened since we updated you in January, all of which is positive when it comes to protecting our village, our community and our environment.
We will continue to keep you updated as further information becomes available from EDF and other agencies.
Mike Sewell
Chair – Kingston Seymour Parish Council
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12th February 2025

The North Somerset Levels Action Group leadership have – with considerable effort and specialist support – completed a report on why EDF’s Saltmarsh proposals make no sense in Kingston Seymour.  This report has been submitted to EDF.

The full report is here (PDF opens in a new window)

Appendix A here (PDF opens in a new window)

Appendix B here (PDF opens in a new window)

Appendices C & D are hosted on a separate page here (Page opens in a new window)

Appendix E here (PDF opens in a new window)

Appendix F here (PDF opens in a new window)

Appendix G1 here (PDF opens in a new window)

Appendix G2 here (PDF opens in a new window)

Appendix H  here (PDF opens in a new window)

Appendix I here (Picture file, opens in a new window)

Appendix J here (PDF opens in a new window)

Appendix K here (PDF opens in a new window)

Appendix L here (PDF opens in a new window)

Appendix M here (PDF opens in a new window)

Appendix N here (PDF opens in a new window)

Appendix O here (PDF opens in a new window)

Appendix P here (PDF opens in a new window)

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22nd January 2025

A statement has been made by the leaders of the parish council and the action group:

EDF has advised us that they are delaying their consultation on saltmarsh (which was due in January 2025) until later this year so that they can further review what proposals they will put forward for public consultation.
Unfortunately, this does not take “saltmarsh” off the table, but it does provide more time for the action group and parish councils jointly to marshal facts on all the reasons why this is a bad idea! In support of this, the action group is finalising a detailed report to be submitted to EDF which outlines the key issues and impacts to be considered by EDF in reaching their consultation decision.
The Parish Council and Action Group continue to meet with EDF, the Environment Agency and other key stakeholders as well as provide updates to various local and national media outlets. Our position has not changed in that salt marsh is not supported and EDF must not continue the current uncertainty any longer than necessary – it must be brought to a swift resolution.
This does leave a blight over the area though and we have had that some insurance companies are taking a negative view at renewal. We have obtained a letter of comfort from the Environment Agency to describe how any replacement sea defences (now or in the future) would have to be better the ones we have now.  This letter is published in the saltmarsh information section of the village website (i.e. below) and may help you if you need to discuss matters with your own insurance company.
The specific reference is “any future proposals put forward would have to deliver improved flood protection for the coastal communities behind any proposed realignment of defences.”  Hopefully until EDF have withdrawn their saltmarsh proposal, this will lead to a more reasonable approach being taken by insurance companies.
We will keep you updated as further information becomes available from EDF and other agencies.
Mike Sewell, Parish Council and Claire Stuckey, Action Group

The letter and suggested actions referred to in the statement is here (PDF opens in a new window)

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8th January 2025

An article was carried in the North Somerset Times about a delay in the start of the EDF formal consultation.

This article is reproduced here (PDF opens in a new window)

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13th December 2024

A joint statement has been issued by the chairs of the four parish councils affected and this is here (PDF opens in a new window)

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27th November 2024

The North Somerset Levels Action Group have produced a document – 32 Reasons Why We Say No to Saltmarsh – and this is here (PDF opens in a new window)

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12th November 2024

North Somerset Council have voted unanimously to support the formal motion here (PDF opens in a new window)

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23rd October 2024

EDF have provided this link to a repository of their documentation.  This is because most of the documents are above the maximum size for loading onto this website.

The EDF Repository is here (Link to EDF website, opens in a new window)

There are also specific links to their document about the case for removal of the requirement to install an Acoustic Fish Deterrent, this is here Acoustic Fish Deterrent Options Report 2019 ((Link to EDF website, opens in a new window)  and the updated Environmental Statement that accompanied it, which is here 2019 AFD Environmental update (Link to EDF website, opens in a new window)

23rd October 2024

At a meeting of the Kingston Seymour Parish Council on Monday 21st October, Councillors formally voted unanimously that the parish council would resist the attempts of EDF to create saltmarsh in our parish.

Similar discussions have been taking place in the three other parishes threatened with such actions and today, a Joint Statement from the chairs of Arlingham, Westbury-on-Severn and ourselves has been issued and is here Joint Statement from Parish Council chairs (PDF opens in a new window)

Aust Parish – the fourth threatened area – are meeting on the 15th November and are expected to ratify the statement.

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21st October 2024

Minutes of a Full Council Meeting to discuss the matter are here (PDF opens in a new window)

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19th October 2024

The North Somerset Times kindly posted this article (PDF opens in a new window) in their online version on the 19th October 2024

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14th October 2024

The first document is a presentation from EDF which was made to a packed village meeting on Monday 14th October 2024.

The presentation slides are here: EDF Slides 14th October 2024 (PDF opens in a new window)

A video of the entire proceedings on the 14th October 2024 can be accessed (via Facebook) here  Entire Meeting Video (3+ hours). Opens in a new window

Notes from the meeting are here (PDF opens in a new window)

We are working on editing this into more manageable “chunks” but we thought it may be helpful to make it available in its entirety.

The MP for Kingston Seymour, Tessa Munt MP, was present at the meeting on the 14th and had discussed the matter with her “neighbouring” MP – North Somerset’s Sadik Al-Hassan MP. 

Sadik summarised their collective thoughts and next steps in this  Note from Sadik Al-Hassan (PDF opens in a new window)

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Steve Dixon, Parish Clerk

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