GWYNEDD Council has accused a company behind plans for a new nuclear power station on Anglesey of ignoring the potential impact the development would have on Gwynedd.

In response to a recent informal consultation by Horizon Nuclear Power, who are behind the Wylfa Newydd development, Cabinet member for the environment Dafydd Meurig has expressed disappointment that Gwynedd Council’s previous comments submitted to consultations over the last three years have so far been disregarded.

Whilst acknowledging that the proposed development of Wylfa Newydd is extremely significant for the whole of the north west Wales area, in his letter to Horizon, Cllr Meurig has expressed disappointment that the company has not amended its proposals following the council’s submissions to previous consultations.

Cllr Meurig said: “There is no doubt that the proposed development of Wylfa Newydd on Ynys Môn offers opportunities for the local economy, including here in Gwynedd.

“However, it is also bound to create challenges for us as a county in terms of issues like infrastructure and transport, housing stock that may be needed for workers during the construction period, the local labour market, public services and the Welsh language.

“I have therefore written to Horizon Nuclear Power to express our concerns that there has been unwillingness so far in terms of considering the impact of the development on Gwynedd.

“Indeed, there is very little reference made to the potential side effects on Gwynedd at all in the company’s latest consultation documents.

“As a council, we are concerned that a large number of the company’s plans have been based on specific assumptions, and we are eager that Horizon addresses any lessons to be learned from the Hinkley Point nuclear power station development in Somerset.

“There, unforeseen side effects are being experienced, and it should be remembered that around 5,600 workers are the most expected at Hinkley Point, compared with up to 9,000 workers during the Wylfa Newydd construction phase.

“Gwynedd Council therefore calls on Horizon Nuclear Power to give far more consideration to what could occur if the company’s assumptions are not realised.

“In particular, there is no guarantee that every one of the significant workforce involved in the construction of the power station will choose to live on the site earmarked for them by the company.

“There would be a very significant impact on the wider area if high numbers of the workforce decided to live in communities in Gwynedd.

“We therefore urge Horizon to prepare more detailed plans that will give appropriate consideration to the likelihood that a high number of the 9,000 staff will choose to live in Gwynedd.

“This in turn would be likely to have an impact on the Welsh language, Gwynedd’s communities and the local housing stock, and detailed work to look into this must be carried out as soon as possible.”

Horizon Nuclear Power is expected to submit its application for a Development Consent Order for the Wylfa Newydd proposal to the UK Government in March 2018, with a decision to follow in the summer of 2019.

A Horizon spokesperson said: “We have engaged consistently with Gwynedd Council as our project has developed.

“Most recently we have been meeting regularly to discuss, develop and agree our Statement of Common Ground, which forms part of our Development Consent Order application to the Planning Inspectorate. This is an ongoing process.

“We have shared our draft documents, which outline the potential impacts on Gwynedd, as part of these discussions, and all feedback from the council will be considered fully as we finalise our application.”