Hinkley Point is a headland on the Bristol Channel coast of Somerset, England, 5 miles (8 kilometres) north of Bridgwater and 5 mi (8 km) west of Burnham-on-Sea, close to the mouth of the River Parrett.
Excavations in 2014 and 2015, carried out by Cotswold Archaeology and funded by Électricité de France (EDF) in preparation for the construction of Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, discovered a farming settlement at the site dating from the Iron Age and then a post Roman cemetery.[1][2]
Hinkley Point adjoins Bridgwater Bay, a Site of Special Scientific Interest[3] and nature reserve,[4] and is a popular location for birdwatching and fossil hunting. A visitor centre in Bridgwater gives access to information, as well as running tours of the plant. There is also a nature trail which features plants, birds and butterflies.[5]
The exposed location of Hinkley Point meant that it was considered ideal for wind generation. However, a proposal to build 12 wind turbines close to the site of the nuclear power stations was turned down in October 2005.[6] The reason given by West Somerset District Council for the rejection was safety fears over what would happen were a turbine blade to detach and hit "something or somebody".[6]
- ^ "Archaeology at Hinkley Point". South West Heritage Trust. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ "Hinkley Point C excavations unearth bones from the Dark Ages". BBC. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ "Bridgwater Bay SSSI". Natural England. Retrieved 19 February 2007.
- ^ "Bridgwater Bay Natural Area". Natural England. Retrieved 19 February 2007.
- ^ "Hinkley Point Nature Trail to reopen". British Energy. Retrieved 19 February 2007.
- ^ a b "Wind turbine farm plans rejected". BBC News. 26 October 2005. Retrieved 19 February 2007.