THE leader of a Maldon group is appealing for a wider discussion on plans which will lay the groundwork for Bradwell B.

Plans for the ground development works of the proposed Bradwell B nuclear power station are set to go before the Maldon District Council Planning Committee later in the year.

The application, which was made by the Bradwell Power Generation Company Limited, would see the company conduct ground investigations, load tests and other associated works in connection to the proposed Bradwell B project.

It is believed the application would lay the foundations for the Bradwell B project

However, due to the coronavirus, the number of planning committee members conferring has been reduced to just three.

Judy Lea, the chairman of the Maldon Society, opposes the decision to progress with the application, despite there only being three members on the committee.

She said: "Since the bulk of the applications at the moment are for domestic buildings and minor alterations to larger housing schemes already approved in principle, this is obviously a good way to keep things going and has considerable merit.

"However, there is a decision pending on the ground development works for Bradwell B which it would be wholly undemocratic to process in the same way.

"Opponents of the application should be allowed to voice their objections and importantly to hear the debate.

"The right thing to do would be to defer a decision on this particular application until the virus restrictions are lifted.

"However, we all know this differs hugely from normal applications, because it literally lays the ground for the BRB station to follow.

"MDC is currently accepting £15k a month in its role as a conduit for public consultation. Now is the time for that money to be truly earned.

The application comes as the public consultation on Bradwell B was forced to extend until July 1.

Due to the virus, the consultation now allows residents to voice their arguments and concerns online or during a 20 minute phone interview.

July Lea hopes the application will also be postponed.

She added: "If BRB's return date for consultation can be put off till July, when restrictions might well still be in place - certainly for the vulnerable - why not longer so the exhibitions can be rearranged?

"Criticism of the local authority would be justified if this particular application were to be favourably determined within the temporary decision framework now in place.

"At the very least the government must present its case for BRB to us, and we have the right to openly consider what this means for us."

A spokesperson for the council, said; “The Council took the responsible decision to suspend all of the council’s meetings in light of Coronavirus.

"The majority of planning application are determined under delegated authority and the process for these applications has not altered.

"However, planning applications that would normally have been referred to a Planning Committee are currently delegated to a Director to make the decision, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, the Chairman of the Council and the Leader of the Opposition, or their substitutes.

"There is also the option which states that ‘where applications would have been determined at a planning committee, applicants will be given the option of waiting for the next available meeting of the appropriate Planning Committee.’

"All planning applications are still determined in line with the Council’s policies and normal planning considerations; it is important to note that the opportunity still exists for written representations to be made to the Council.

"Regarding the Development Consent Order process for a new power station at Bradwell, this is to be determined by the Secretary of State.

"Maldon District Council have indicated their views to BRB on the need to extend the consultation process, given the Covid-19 emergency.

"However, this is a separate matter to the determination of the current application with Maldon District Council for ground works."