ANGRY villagers have confronted energy giant EDF over its refusal to include an A12 bypass in its plans for a new power station.

They grilled company bosses over their stance on building a new road to skirt Farnham, Stratford St Andrew, Little Glemham and Marlesford.

Villagers - around 30 of whom attended Monday night’s meeting at the Riverside Centre, Stratford St Andrew - want a bypass built as part of EDF Energy’s proposed Sizewell C development.

The energy firm has argued the potential increase in traffic along the road south of Sizewell would not be enough to justify the construction of a major bypass. It estimates there would be a 5 to 15% increase in traffic during the power station’s construction - a figure hotly disputed by villagers.

Debbi Tayler, clerk for Farnham with Stratford St Andrew Parish Council, speaking to the East Anglian Daily Times after the meeting, said there had been a “challenging and cross” mood.

She added: “There was a lot of people there and everybody felt extremely strongly about the issue.

“Most people believe the road is at or beyond capacity and the additional traffic will be the tipping point.

“They say they are listening to us and they say this is only stage one of the process.

“People were feeling that they were not being listened to and they are not looking at what the wider community wants.”

Mrs Tayler said the parish council would now go away and think about its response to EDF’s Sizewell C proposals.

She added: “A bypass would benefit EDF because it would speed up their traffic heading to Sizewell.

“If there’s an accident on this part of the A12 it can block the road for hours.” Tom McGarry, communications manager at EDF Energy, joined at the meeting by colleague Roy Collins, transport manager, said: “We welcome the opportunity and we’re grateful for the opportunity to present our initial proposals to Farnham with Stratford St Andrew Parish Council.

“It has given us the opportunity to explain the planning process and answer questions.

“There was a shared understanding of the importance of building up a dialogue between ourselves and the local community as this is a lengthy process.

“We want to put in place measures to limit the impact of Sizewell C construction traffic on local roads and we want to maximise the opportunity this project can bring to Suffolk.”