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PA
World News

Hinkley Point C 'a great opportunity for the church,' says vicar

by Aaron James

Rev Alison Waters is speaking after the government approved the building of Hinkley Point C after postponing its formal confirmation in July.

At the time, Rev Alison said the government was creating "uncertainty" with the postponement, but welcomed today's confirmation as "very good news".

It is thought Prime Minister Theresa May held back on the go-ahead because of security concerns linked to the fact that China would partly own Hinkley Point C.

An amendment has been made to the contract meaning that French energy firm EDF, which owns the plant, will not be allowed to transfer its ownership without government approval first.

Hinkley Point will:

Cost French firm EDF £12bn
Cost Chinese firm CGN £6bn
Provide enough electricity for 5.8m homes - 7% of Britain's needs 
Take 10 years to build
Create 26,000 jobs and apprenticeships
Last around sixty years

A group opposed to Hinkley, as well as Greenpeace, delivered a 300,000-name petition to Downing Street calling for the project to be scrapped, shortly after the go-ahead was announced.

They argue that nuclear energy is dangerous, expensive and Hinkley Point C will severely disrupt the area of Somerset it is built in.

Supporters say the plant will provide a growing British population with much-needed power in a way which is relatively good for the environment.

Speaking on Premier's News Hour, Rev Alison Waters said: "On the whole in this area, which has been used to having Hinkley on its doorstep for so long, this will be very good news.

"Of course from the church's perspective this is good news too.

"There'll be more people coming to live here and that's something that we, as the churches in this local area, need to take very seriously."

Listen to Premier's Hannah Tooley speaking to Rev Alison Waters on the News Hour:

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