Hinkley Point C Inquiry: Records

EG 4

1986-1990

This series contains records of the public inquiry into the proposal by the Central Electricity Generating Board to construct a pressurized water reactor nuclear power station at Hinkley Point, Somerset, conducted by Michael Barnes QC, in 1988 and 1989.

The series includes indexed transcripts of the proceedings, evidence, statements and supporting documents. The report of the inquiry published on 6 September 1990 can be found in pieces 5472-5482, with a detailed description of the supporting documents in pieces 5451-5457.

BCC British Coal Corporation

BEC British Energy Centre

CCC Coalfield Communities Campaign

COLA Consortium of Opposing Local Authorities

CPRE Council for the Protection of Rural England

CREC (Combwich) Residents Environmental Concern

DEn Department of Energy

DOE Department of the Environment

DOE/DTp Department of the Environment and Transport

FOE Friends of the Earth

HSE Health and Safety Executive

NUM National Union of Mineworkers

SCAR Severnside Campaign Against Radiation

SHE Stop Hinkley Expansion

SOM CC Somerset County Council

SWOE South West Friends of the Earth

TCPA Town and Country Planning Association

WANA Welsh Anti-Nuclear Alliance

WCP Welsh Communist Party

Public Record(s)

English

5482 files and volumes

Open

Topics

Litigation

Nuclear energy

Electricity

On 21 March 1988, Cecil Parkinson, Secretary of State for Energy, announced the setting up of the public inquiry into the Central Electricity Generating Board's (CEGB) plans to construct a pressurised water reactor nuclear power station at Hinkley Point in Somerset. On information available to the Secretary of State, the following economic, safety environmental and planning matters were likely to be relevant to his consideration of the CEGB's application to construct a pressurised water reactor (PWR) at Hinkley Point:

(1) the applicant's requirement for the power station - particularly in the light of Government policy as set out in the answer given on 17 December 1987 and in the White Paper "Privatising Electricity" (CM322), in particular paragraphs 44-49;

(2) the safety features of the design, construction and operation of the station, taking into account the conclusion on the safety of the Sizewell B PWR contained in the report of Sir Frank Layfield QC and the views of the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate, as representing the Health and Safety Executive (the licensing authority);

(3) the on-site management of radioactive waste arising from the station and radioactive discharges from the station to the environment in the light of the views of the Authorising Departments; and

(4) the implications of the proposed development (including construction, operation and decommissioning) for:

(a) agriculture and fisheries;

(b) the local economy including employment;

(c) water supply and disposal;

(d) transport requirements;

(e) coast protection and sea defences;

(f) housing and public services generally;

(g) local authorities and in particular areas of special landscape value or nature conservation interest;

(h) emergency arrangements

The Secretary of State for Energy announced the setting up of the Hinkley Point C public inquiry and appointed Mr Michael Barnes QC as Inspector on 21 March 1988. Following the pre-inquiry meetings in June and July 1988, the main inquiry into the CEGB's application to build a PWR at Hinkley Point in Somerset was opened on 4 October 1988 in the Main Hall of the Somerset College of Agriculture and Horticulture, Cannington, Somerset.