BUSINESSES adversely affected by the construction of Hinkley Point C can now apply for grants of up to £5,000.

EDF Energy will make more than £134,000 available to small firms in and around Bridgwater affected by increased HGV traffic on the town’s main roads.

Sedgemoor District Council is to match fund EDF’s allocation, with all the money needing to be distributed to businesses by the end of September 2019.

The council’s executive committee agreed to create the Hinkley Point C small business grant fund at a meeting in Bridgwater on Wednesday morning (April 25).

A total of £134,750 has been offered by EDF Energy to mitigate the rise in HGV movements in and around Bridgwater until the new jetty at Hinkley Point is completed in September 2019.

This is in addition to other mitigation which the company has provided, including a contribution of £2.3m towards the Colley Lane Southern Access Road in Bridgwater.

The council will match this amount from its existing community development fund, bringing the total amount of available grant funding to £269,500.

Businesses can apply for a grant of up to £5,000, but must demonstrate that they have been affected by the increase in HGVs or “potential additional delay and congestion” on either the A38 or A39 between the M5 and the Hinkley Point site.

The money is not designed to compensate businesses who may have been adversely affected by roadworks in the same area.

Successful businesses must meet the following criteria:

- They must be based in Sedgemoor

- They must clearly explain the value of their business to Sedgemoor (e.g. creating jobs or apprentices, increasing productivity, using local suppliers etc.)

- They must have objectives with align with the council’s economic development strategy (which sets out how the district will encourage businesses and growth up to 2032)

- They must be an independent business, employing less than 200 people

- They must have been operating for more than 12 months

Businesses must also supply the council with a full year’s account and three quotes for purchases.

If a business successfully applies, it can use the money for any of the following purposes: retaining existing staff or employing new people, investing in new facilities, equipment and processes, carrying out research and development, diversifying into new markets, marketing the business or exporting goods and services.

The grant cannot be used simply to make up for income lost as a result of the HGV movements, and only one grant can be made per business.

Cllr Michael Caswell, who represents the villages around the Quantock Hills, said that the impact of the increased HGV movements was being felt across the whole district.

He said: “Bridgwater is not the only local area affected by this.

“The traffic situation on the C182 and the A39 is horrendous – it’s horrendous in Cheddar and Burnham-on-Sea as well.

“We most support our businesses, and I fully support this.”

The money will be delivered in an initial payment of £24,750 – some of which will go towards efforts to improve air quality – followed by monthly instalments of £8,250.

On average, the council will make one grant of £5,000 every month until the funding is exhausted, with applications being reviewed on a first come, first served basis.

Businesses which are not in the eligible area can still apply for grants to the council’s existing small business grant fund, which was set up in June 2017 and also prevents grants of up to £5,000.

If you apply to the new Hinkley Point fund, you cannot apply to the existing small grant fund – you must apply to one or the other.

The committee voted to accept the EDF funding with a view to match funding it from its existing budget.

This proposed match funding is subject to approval by the full council, which will next meet in Bridgwater on June 23.