Proposals to extend the working hours on a multi-million pound fuel store project at Sizewell B have been given the go-ahead – despite objections from community leaders.

Leiston-cum-Sizewell Town Council recommended refusal for the extra working hours and said the project should abide by the agreed weekend working for construction sites in the area.

Councillors also voiced concerns over changes in lorry routes for the project that would send more trucks through Leiston.

EDF Energy is constructing a facility for “dry” storage of highly radioactive spent fuel rods from the nuclear power station reactor.

The work is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year – only months before the existing facility is likely to become full.

To speed up the work and increase flexibility at the construction site, the company applied to increase its working hours on Saturdays to permit work between 7.30am and 6pm.

It has also asked for variation to the routes for cement delivery lorries to the site, asking for them to be allowed to use the B1119 rather than via the approved A12/B1122 construction traffic route.

Town councillors felt there was no reason to change the travel plan for trucks and allow them to come through Leiston via Waterloo Road, Station Road and Abbey Road, when lay-bys had been created on the Clayhills Road and other roadworks done in Middleton and Theberton specifically to accommodate the lorries.

Councillor Bill Howard said: “We are talking about more noise and dust and disruption for the residents and the restrictions should stay.”

Suffolk Coastal said: “The amendment just provides the flexibility to continue working a little longer on Saturdays should it be necessary if, for example, work scheduled to finish on a Friday carries over.”

Sizewell B plant manager John Benn told the Sizewell Stakeholder Group the aim was to get the building completed as early as possible and keep disruption to a shorter period.

The B1119 would only be used in the event that the concrete batching plant breaks down and urgent supplies of concrete are required.