WEST Somerset Council has this week clarified its position on nuclear power, after it was claimed the authority had agreed to oppose the building of a new power station at Hinkley Point.

Local anti-nuclear group Stop Hinkley had welcomed findings released by Nuclear Free Local Authorities, which suggested the council had endorsed an anti-nuclear policy last April, as part of a Local Development Plan.

Campaigners celebrated the news, predicting that West Somerset's opposition to the scheme would prevent the Government from bypassing a public enquiry into the building of Hinkley C.

They said the decision "will be a set back" to Hinkley B owner British Energy who is currently in talks about sharing the £2billion construction cost for a new power station on the site.

But council spokesman, Stacey Beaumont, said although the council's Local Plan Policy does say it opposes further nuclear development, this does not include the replacement of existing stations once they have been de-commissioned.

She said: "The Local Plan Policy EN/5 states the council will resist the development of further nuclear power generation capacity at Hinkley Point.

"However, the policy does allow for the site's nuclear power generation capacity to be replaced. "West Somerset Council does not have a policy that states it will oppose the construction of a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point if it is to replace Hinkley A or B, providing it does not exceed their (A & B's) generating capacity."

Stop Hinkley also claimed the anti-nuclear policy had been signed off without publicity.

West Somerset Council say the decision to adopt the Local Plan was taken by members of all parties in public at a full council meeting, before which it was subject to four states of public consultation and public enquiry.

This week's debate comes just week's after Greenpeace won a High Court bid to force ministers to rethink their programme to build a new generation of nuclear power stations.