Action groups protesting against a new Bradwell nuclear power station held a conferenceto discuss the impact of Bradwell B.

Nuclear Free Local Authorities hosted a public meeting alongside Together Against Sizewell C, Blackwater Against New Nuclear Group (Banng) and Stop Hinkley.

The talks were held at Firstsite in Colchester and Mark Cory, leader of Colchester Council, welcomed the delegates to the conference.

He said: “The conference is significant at a time when the climate emergency is focusing attention on future survival.

“New nuclear power stations bring danger and destruction to vulnerable coastal sites.

“At a local level, a power station at Bradwell could threaten precious environments and marine life, notably the Colchester Native Oyster.”

Among the audience were councillors representing Colchester Council, West Mersea Town Council, Maldon Council and East Suffolk Council.

Nuclear expert and veteran campaigner Prof Andrew Blowers, of Banng, said: “A mammoth new nuclear power station will see the long-term storage of dangerous radioactive waste at Bradwell.

“It will inflict devastation and danger on the tranquil Essex coastlands and bring harm to marine life of the estuaries that compose the Marine Conservation Zone.”

The groups are concerned radioactive waste could remain for up to 200 years and claim no long-term solution to radioactive waste management has yet been agreed.

Prof Blowers added: “It is difficult to conceive a more vulnerable site as the impacts of climate change bring flooding, storm surges and coastal change to this fragile area.

“The fact this nuclear danger will be undertaken by a Chinese state-backed company makes it totally unacceptable.”

A spokesman for the Bradwell B development said the Government had designated the site as “potentially suitable” for a new nuclear plant in 2011, with the risk of flooding and coastal change being a major factor in its decision.

EDF Energy, which is leading the development, said: “Once a power station enters operation, there will be ongoing coastal and climate change monitoring throughout its lifetime with provision made for adaptation if necessary.”