RESIDENTS were left fuming after government officials arrived more than an hour late to a public meeting to discuss plans for a new nuclear power station at Oldbury.

Representatives from the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) had been invited to attend the meeting at Thornbury Leisure Centre last night by South Gloucestershire Council.

The purpose of the meeting was for local people to hear a presentation from DECC on why Oldbury is still being considered a suitable site for a new power station, despite local objections.

However, because of problems with trains the DECC officials did not arrive until 8.15pm, an hour and a quarter after the meeting started.

South Gloucestershire Council officers were forced to stand in and read the DECC presentation, but the last minute substitution angered the 86 people who had turned up.

John Grey, a farmer from Shepperdine, said: "As locals this was such an important meeting for us and this has been a total farce."

A contingent of local people have long campaigned that land at Shepperdine, near Oldbury, was not suitable for a new generation nuclear power station.

Members of the campaign group Shepperdine Against Nuclear Energy (SANE), who held a small protest before the meeting, claim the height of the cooling towers, the increase in traffic during construction and the flood risk of the site make it unsuitable.

When he eventually arrived Peter McDonald, the deputy head of the Office for Nuclear Development, was greeted with an onslaught of criticism for being late and for the selection of Oldbury.

Mr McDonald said: "We are sorry that you didn’t hear the presentation from us.

"This was a meeting we were asked to attend by the residents’ group and the local council and we were happy to attend.

"We were here in Thornbury for three days in February. We had a very large public meeting then and were happy to come back to discuss the issues you have."

Since the meeting it has been confirmed that DECC has agreed to repeat the meeting in the New Year, date and venue to be confirmed.

DECC recently released a new draft of its National Policy Statements (NPS) on energy, which set out the government’s approach to tackle climate change and sourcing low carbon energy supplies.

It is the NPS on nuclear, which lists Oldbury as a preferred site for a new station.

Reg Illingworth, chairman of SANE, said: "This is our opportunity as a community to get Oldbury excluded as a preferred site."

Members of the public have until January 24 2011 to comment on the new draft of the National Policy Statements (NPS). For more information visit www.energynpsconsultation.decc.gov.uk/nuclear