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Major Projects
information about major projects
Bridgwater Tidal Barrier
The Environment Agency and Somerset Council have been working together for several years to develop proposals for a Tidal Barrier Scheme on the River Parrett, to protect Bridgwater and the surrounding communities from flooding.
The Scheme will reduce tidal flood risk to 11,300 homes and 1,500 businesses. The whole scheme comprises of:
- A Tidal Barrier structure on the River Parrett next to Express Park, Bridgwater.
- A substantial programme of works to improve existing downstream riverside flood banks and construct new secondary flood banks.
- Improved fish and eel passage at 12 upstream sites on both the rivers Parrett and Tone.
Bridgwater Tidal Barrier
Hinkley Point C & Combwich Wharf Development
Otterhampton Parish is currently facing three major infrastructure development proposals: EDF’s proposal for development at Combwich Wharf to facilitate the nuclear new build at Hinkley Point C, and two new wetland schemes proposed by the Environment Agency and the Port of Bristol Company, together involving more than half the total landmass of the Parish.
The latest information on the refurbishment of the Combwich Wharf and much more is below. (Just click on the green text below)
As part of the Hinkley Point C project, works are underway to refurbish the current wharf in Combwich. This will allow large loads to be delivered by sea. For the latest information, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions on the Hinkley Point C website –
or
Future workforce update HPC Workforce Uplift Feb 21
Monthly Parish Newsletter May EDF
Hear from Hinkley Point C Managing Director, Stuart Crooks, and find out more about the construction of the first nuclear power station to be built in a generation.
Combwich Wharf – Combwich Wharf Update May 2021
Combwich Wharf – Deliveries so far
Combwich Wharf has already facilitated a number of deliveries for Hinkley Point C, learn more about the deliveries here…
The background to the issues in relation the redevelopment of Combwich Wharf and associated developments are below.
This parish has had a long association with Hinkley Point nuclear power station with many retired and current employees living in the area. Many people are sympathetic to the notion of a new power station and have always known that one day Combwich Wharf would be used to bring in very large loads for the building of the station. There was therefore no real concern with EDF’s initial proposals for the use of the Wharf for these large loads, but when during their Stage 2 consultation the development of a huge freight logistics area and 12 metre high fabrication sheds were discovered, there was outrage in the village.
Since then, the parish council and the community have managed to scale back these proposals a little, but there were still major problems with the proposals which EDF submitted to the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) now renamed the Planning Inspectorate. The parish council has made a detailed submission to the examining panel and an Issue Specific Hearing focusing on Combwich was held on 24th August 2012. The panel has finished taking evidence and is considering all the submissions made to them. It is expect they will report to the Secretary of State early in 2013.
As time went by EDF concluded that a huge laydown at combwich was no longer necessary and the concerns villagers had were dispelled
Follow the links below to find out more about how the parish council responded to the challenges
Steart Peninsula Projects
Two wetland habitat areas are being created on the Steart peninsula that will be home to one of the UK’s largest areas of new intertidal and freshwater wildlife habitats. Improvements will be also be made to existing flood defences and the network of access tracks and paths.
The first scheme involving the Environment Agency is well under way. In the spring of 2013, it is expected that a 200 metre breach in the River Parrett flood defences will be constructed to create the wetlands.
The Port of Bristol Company will be responsible for the second scheme. This will be to the North of Stert Drove and involve a breach of the Bristol Channel sea defences near Wall Common. This scheme will replace habitat lost when a new container terminal is built at Avonmouth. Although there is a serious commitment to go ahead with the project, there is some delay due to the current economic conditions.
Find out more…
- Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) – Steart Marshes
- Environment Agency
- Bristol Port Company – no information on their project
- Somerset Coastal Change project
Combwich Ponds
The area of the Combwich Ponds was previously a brick works and associated clay pits which have been in existence for centuries but finally ceased commercial production in about 1960. The flooded clay pits have always been an attractive area to walk around and enjoyed by generations of villagers and their families. The footpath from the Old Wharf Road following the southerly edge of the ponds was a linear route which joined the Stogursey/Hinkley Point to Cannington road at Bolham House and joined a wider network of footpaths.
The land which includes the Pond was purchased by the Bridgwater Angling Association Limited (BAA Ltd) on 12th February 1969.
Following the closure in May 2007, a flyer was circulated throughout the village asking people to respond if they were concerned about the closure of the footpaths. Over a 100 people responded expressing their concern. The Parish Council and the Otterhampton Parish Recreation Association both expressed their concern and committed themselves to a campaign to get the footpaths reopened to the public.
A letter of appeal was submitted to Somerset County Council (SCC) in 2008 (see the link below). Currently our appeal is on the list to be considered by the Council.
January 2020. The Somerset County Council who adjudicate on these matters have finally got round to considering our application. Those of you who submitted evidence to support our claim all those years ago have been interviewed and a draft report together with appendices will be published on the SCC website at the end of this month (January). The applicant (Barry Leathwood) on behalf of the parish council and the Landowner (Bridgwater Angling Association) will be written to with 6 weeks to reply/comment.
Two weeks later ‘Other Interested Parties’ (i.e. Ramblers, Open Spaces Society, Natural England, etc), will be written to with 4 weeks in which to reply/comment.
By April 2020 all replies ‘should’ be returned, and the ‘report’ will be made from the draft report, taking into account the replies/comments collected from the 4-6 weeks of consultation.
This ‘report’ is the rationale on which the decision is based on and is then published with the decision (both published on the SCC website).
More information will be provided as and when it becomes available. Covid-19 reared its ugly head and a decision has been delayed. However, we are assured that a decision is now imminent (April 20).
The reopening of the Combwich Ponds gets ever closer as the Order to modify the definitive map has been published. Copies of the Order may be obtained from Somerset County Council Rights of way public notices (somerset.gov.uk). All the documents and maps relating to this are available on the same site.
However it is still possible for objection, stating the grounds for the objection, to be made until the 19th April 2022. If there are no objections to the Order Somerset County Council (SCC) instead of submitting to the Secretary of State, may itself confirm the Order. If written objections are made SCC will be required to submit them together with the Order to the Secretary of State
Once the Order has been confirmed there will be a legally enforceable right of way around the Combwich Ponds.
