THE company behind the proposed new nuclear power station at Bradwell has said its focus is on "progressing" the application, despite claims by campaigners that the project could be abandoned in the coming weeks or months.

Local anti-nuclear campaigners, Blackwater Against New Nuclear Group (BANNG), is suggesting that the cards are stacking up against Bradwell B following the announcement last week that the proposed Wylfa nuclear plant on Anglesey in Wales will not now go ahead. Plans for the Wylfa plant were pulled by Japanese company Hitachi. BANNG argues that the Wylfa project, which was supported by the local Welsh community, could only have been saved by UK government financial support to underwrite energy prices – which has not happened.

The Bradwell company, called the Bradwell B Power Generation Company (BRB) is formed of an alliance between the China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) and French power company EDF.

In a statement, BANGG said: "While the Chinese developer, CGN, appears to have the resources it, too, may be reluctant to underwrite Bradwell B without UK support in some form or other. In any case concerns about risks to our national security from Chinese investment in our nuclear infrastructure are becoming more insistent to the point where either the British or Chinese government may choose to call it a day.

"If these financial and security questions are not enough, CGN is now fully aware of the mountain it has to climb to get anywhere near planning permission for its massive nuclear juggernaut, which, if it comes to pass, will utterly destroy the environment and wellbeing of the Blackwater region."

The decision on whether Bradwell B gets final permission to go ahead will come from the national Planning Inspectorate, but Maldon District Council (MDC) is among the local authorities whose views are taken into consideration. MDC refused planning permission for ground works to start at the Bradwell site last month, but it is expected that this decision could be overturned by the Planning Inspectorate on appeal.

MDC initially supported the application, but councillors have now changed that position and a meeting of the full council on Thursday will debate whether council officers should be allowed to represent them and their views in the consultation process. Colchester Borough Council also voted to oppose the nuclear plant plans in August.

However, a spokesperson for BRB today (Monday, September 28) insisted that the company remains committed to going ahead with the new plant.

The BRB spokesperson said: "UK Government policy is to deliver net zero carbon emissions by 2050, a period in which electricity usage in the UK is expected to double. New nuclear power stations produce low carbon electricity when the wind doesn't blow and sun doesn't shine and are integral to the UK having a low carbon energy mix which includes renewables.

"Our focus continues to be on progressing Bradwell B, and we are making important progress having recently completed a first round of public consultation. We are working hard to take account of people's feedback ahead of presenting revised proposals in our next stage of consultation."