NEWPORT West MP Paul Flynn has slammed the decision to give the green light to the £18bn Hinkley Point nuclear power station without a vote.

It was announced today that the government had signed off plans for the station in Somerset, which is only 43 miles from Newport across the channel, after reaching an agreement with French energy firm EDF.

But Mr Flynn, who has long campaigned against the new power station, slammed the announcement, saying he was particularly concerned MPs were not given the opportunity to debate and vote on the scheme.

“It shouldn’t be done this way, in a letter to the public,” he said.

“There should be a vote.”

Saying giving the project the go-ahead “could be the most disastrous decision in a lifetime”, the Labour MP said he believed it would result in UK electricity bills rocketing.

“It’s a major decision which will be around for 50 years if it does go ahead and people will be left with huge bills,” he said.

But one Newport steel firm is celebrating the news after being named the preferred bidder for construction of the facility.

Express Reinforcements - which is based in Neath but also has a facility in Newport - is expected to be given the contract for the project, predicted to be worth more than £100m to the firm.

The business will use 200,000 tonnes of reinforcing steel made in Cardiff in the project and has been named via contractor BYLOR.

Managing director Andy Lodge welcomed the news.

"We are pleased to be the preferred supplier of reinforcing steel to this contract through BYLOR," he said.

“It cements long-term relationships and puts Express at the forefront of reinforcing steel supply, having already been a major supplier to other key infrastructure projects such as Crossrail and Heathrow Terminal Five,” he said.

“It shows that our proven track record in delivering on these significant projects is highly valued and local, responsibly-sourced steel to the highest quality standards is fundamental to all involved on this construction."

Business, energy and industrial strategy secretary Greg Clark said the government had decide to go ahead with the project after signing an agreement ensuring the facility could not be sold without Westminster’s approval.

"Consequently, we have decided to proceed with the first new nuclear power station for a generation,” he said.

"Britain needs to upgrade its supplies of energy and we have always been clear that nuclear is an important part of ensuring our future low-carbon energy security."