ANOTHER hurdle has been cleared in EDF Energy's fight to win permission to build a third nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point in Somerset.

Ahead of a Government ruling next week on whether the build can go ahead, the Environment Agency has issued three environmental permits for the site.

The permits give the plant operators the right to:

• Discharge and dispose of radioactive wastes;

• Discharge cooling water and liquid effluents into the Bristol Channel;

• Operate standby power supply systems using diesel generators.

Brian Payne, Environment Agency Hinkley Point C project manager, said: “The permits we’ve issued for Hinkley Point C set limits and conditions that will ensure people and the environment will be properly protected.

"I’d like to thank all who responded to our public consultations.

"We’ve carefully considered all of the comments we received and the documents we are publishing today explain our decisions."

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