RESIDENTS in Maldon got the chance to hear about a future nuclear power station in Bradwell.

Nigel Knee, from EDF Energy, addressed members of the public at a Maldon Town Council meeting.

The town had missed out on a round of consultations about the proposals late last year.

Fifty people heard Mr Knee and asked questions during the meeting.

Mr Knee said Bradwell remained a candidate for a new power station.

He said: “When we were talking to local communities, we were saying there were a number of sites available, including Bradwell, and we still think Bradwell is a good idea.

“We have a 2017 target for the first one to be operational.”

Mr Knee said land to the east of the current power station would be sold so a new reactor could be built.

The land, which is owned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, will be sold at auction.

Mr Knee added: “People like to build new power stations next to existing ones and we think that is a sensible thing to do.”