The construction site of the new nuclear reactor at Hinkley Point C in Somerset has reportedly become overrun with what workers are calling “nuclear rats,” sparking serious concerns about health and safety.
Unite and GMB trade unions have urgently called on French energy giant EDF to take immediate action to address the significant rodent infestation at the site. Workers have voiced mounting concerns for their wellbeing while constructing Britain’s first new nuclear power station in decades.
An insider at the site disclosed to the Observer: “They’re all over. You see them just sat there, looking at you. It is worse near the canteens, where I guess it started. But they are everywhere now.”
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Employees have described the situation as “quite grim.” The project exceeding its budget by a billion pounds has also raised worries about financial constraints impacting working conditions and wages, leading to industrial action last November.
Hinkley Point C spokesperson addressed the issue, stating that measures are in place to address the infestation and to provide the best environment for the workers in collaboration with trade union partners.
Once completed, the nuclear power plant is expected to supply electricity to around six million British households, generating approximately 3,000 jobs over the next 18 months.
Residents of Birmingham have also reported sightings of unusually large rats, sparking concerns about a rare bacterial disease. The NHS has warned about the possibility of Leptospirosis, a disease transmitted through the urine of infected animals, including oversized rats.