PEOPLE living near Shepperdine have been preparing themselves for a campaign against a new nuclear power station.

More than 30 people attended a meeting organised by the Shepperdine Against Nuclear Energy (SANE) Campaign Group last week.

The purpose of the meeting was to get professional advice on how to reply to the various consultations being held.

Reg Illingworth, chairman of SANE, said at the meeting that people were confused by the weighty national consultation on nuclear power, as well as the impending Oldbury-based consultation by developers.

Mr Illingworth also said there was concern about the government’s new planning body the Infrastructure Planning Commission and whether residents living in and around Shepperdine could voice their concerns.

Barry Pearce, regional manager of Planning Aid, an independent professional planning advice group that attended the public meeting, said: "The old system that dealt with this sort of project was very complicated and confusing. It didn’t allow much community involvement and took one hell of a long time to go through.

"The old system didn’t distinguish between big national issues like 'Should we have nuclear power' and local issues such as 'Do we want a nuclear power station at Oldbury'.

"It is now a legal obligation on the developer to consult with the local community and they have to legally take into account the comments made. This is a major change in the favour of the local community."

Mr Pearce told the meeting that it was important that local people commented on the current consultation on the draft Nuclear National Policy Statement by the Department for Energy and Climate Change, because it is this document that will influence any future applications made about new developments in Shepperdine.

During the meeting residents shared their fears about a new power station, which included the destruction of Shepperdine, flooding, disruption during the building work and the impact on wildlife.

John Grey, a Shepperdine farmer, said: "It’s so beautiful down there and if they build the station it will be the end of the Berkeley Vale. It will finish it off."

For more information visit www.shepperdineagainstnuclearenergy.blogspot.com