Sparks fly as council goes into battle with EDF

A district council is taking on EDF Energy in a dispute over the cost of a planning application for a £10bn nuclear power station. Sedgemoor Council, in Somerset, has accused the energy giant of using bully-boy tactics in pushing through plans for a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point. Last week, the council was forced to adjourn the setting of its annual council tax because of arguments over an estimated £2m legal bill. It is refusing to use council taxpayers' money to carry out the work as it says the project is of national benefit and is being built by a commercial, profit-making company. EDF said it had provided more than £13m to the three councils involved to allow them to scrutinise the proposals for Hinkley Point C.