A Government Planning Inspector visited the proposed site for the Bradwell B new nuclear power station this morning (Wednesday, 16 December) at 10am.

Protest artwork highlighting the memory of the airmen who died after flying from the former World War Two airfield at the site was set up at the nearby war memorial yesterday afternoon, ahead of the inspector's visit.

The scheduled site visit took place as part of the appeal

against Maldon District Council's decision to refuse permission for investigative groundworks.

A spokesperson for BRB (Bradwell B Power Generation Company Limited), the power company behind the application, said: "Today's visit from the Planning Inspectorate is an important part of the planning appeal process through which planning decisions are made within the UK.

"The works that we have applied for permission to carry out are to develop our understanding of the site, which will inform and influence the development of our proposals for Bradwell B, and the measures we will need to take to build the power station safely and with the highest standards of environmental protection."

BRB is formed of an alliance between the China General

Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) and French power company EDF.

However, a spokesperson for BAN (Bradwell B Action Network), the group behind the protest art, said: "Under normal circumstances the villagers would be out in force to show the amount of local opposition to these plans. But with Covid restrictions in place, and the welfare of our community being paramount, instead BAN is staging a unique

demonstration of remembrance art at the war memorial, which the Planning Inspector will pass to access the site.

"It's not just our heritage under threat by this development but protected species as the site lies within and adjunct to several important designated habitats. The planning application in question includes a massive 200m x 100m excavation 10 metres deep right in the middle of important winter foraging grounds for protected birds as well as bore hole testing entailing noise and vibration. The RSBP (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), which describes the estuary area as "a Premier League site for birds" has grave concerns over the planning application as well as the overall development, while Essex Wildlife Trust has stated its outright objection to the application.

"This rural area is not only a haven for wildlife but has seen a record number of visitors enjoying the fresh air, remote beaches and isolation of the Saltmarsh Coastal Trail during the current Covid crisis. St Peter's on the Wall, thought to be the oldest chapel in England and a site of pilgrimage abuts the proposed site, while the pretty village of Bradwell On Sea, which holds conservation status, lies less than 1km from where the proposed twin reactors will sit."

And a statement from the pressure group BANNG (Bradwell Against New Nuclear Group) said in a statement: "BRB is appealing against the decision of Maldon District Council to refuse the Planning Application for further land investigations at the Bradwell B site.

"On Wednesday, 16 December, a Planning Inspector will visit the site. Surely this visit is not necessary. These land investigations pave the way for a gigantic nuclear power station which is not needed, is not wanted and may never be built.

"The appeal against the decision of the elected

representatives of the constituents of Maldon District Council is, in fact, being made by a company run by a potentially

hostile, foreign power – China. BANNG urges the Planning Inspector to dismiss the appeal on these grounds."