RESIDENTS from the villages of Woolavington and Cossington turned out in force to protest a planning application for 30 mobile homes for Hinkley workers.

The plan has been submitted by construction firm Montana Scaffolding Ltd for 30 homes to go on the site at Cossington Lane for a temporary period of ten years.

The application has received 36 objections in total including a Sedgemoor District Council's major projects team, the Campaign to Protect Rural England and members of the public.

A petition signed by several residents of Brent Road, Cossington has been handed in to Sedgemoor District Council's planning department.

Mark Healey, Somerset County Councillor for the ward said: "Objections include the unsuitability of the site and the total overdevelopment of the surrounding area, as well as its impact on the village of Cossington."

He added: "Woolavington residents voiced their concerns over the visual impact, the narrowness of Cossington Lane and the increase in traffic and noise from the site."

Alan Clark, director for Montana Scaffolding Ltd defended the plan, and emphasised that it was temporary for the duration of Hinkley C.

"It is the back of the existing scaffolding yard and we do not believe it will cause a nuisance. We are trying to keep it attractive as we believe the workers will be there for quite a few years," he said.

"I think villagers are concerned there will be lots and lots of people but that is not our intention.

"We do employ between 60 and 80 people in the local area and we are looking at providing stability for our workforce.

"I know there is speculation this application has gone in on behalf on someone else but I want to assure people that is not true, it is a Montana Scaffolding Ltd application with no-one else involved."

EDF said it does not comment on individual private applications.