In response to the consultation at Lancaster Town Hall last week about Government plans to simplify the planning application process for new energy infrastructure, including new nuclear power stations. Gina Dowding reiterated Green Party policy to oppose the building of new nuclear power stations.
It is Green Party policy to oppose the building of new nuclear power stations, on the grounds that it is uneconomic, unsafe, and leaves future generations a legacy of highly radioactive waste. The Health and Safety Executive has said it could not recommend plans for the new nuclear reactors because of wide-ranging concerns about their safety.
Gina Dowding said ‘The Government is using climate change as an argument in favour of building new nuclear power stations. However, it’s own document highlights climate change as one of the key risks to new nuclear power stations. Because they need to be built on coastlines or estuaries for cooling purposes, they will be at risk of floods, storm surges, rising sea levels and coastal erosion.’
‘The Government and the nuclear industry are still not dealing with the issue of storing radioactive waste. There is still no facility operating anywhere in the world capable of disposing of this dangerous pollutant, so we don’t actually know whether it’s safe.’
Gina Dowding concluded, ‘The document highlights other negative impacts such as the ecological impact on Morecambe Bay, local water, habitat and species quality. It downplays any risk to the human population in the District, suggesting that a ‘car park’ and some out buildings will provide enough distance between the reactor and local residents to mitigate against any adverse radiological hazard.’
‘Instead of spending millions on promoting nuclear energy as a solution to climate change, the Government should be legislating for energy efficiency, and facilitating the construction of proven safe renewable energy developments.’
The consultation took place at the Town Hall between Nov 26-28th. Visitors concerned about the new nuclear power station planned in Heysham were invited to read the 500+ pages of consultation documents before responding to the proposals. Visitor Gisela Renolds said, ‘A cynic might suggest that the Government made the consultation this cumbersome in order to ensure as few people as possible engage!’
In reponse to Ed Miliband’s announcement of ten proposed new nuclear power stations, Caroline Lucas, leader of the Green Party, said, ‘Bypassing the planning system in this way is bad news for democracy and for the environment… A key democratic right is for the public to have a say on how their area is developed. Decision-making about where we get our energy from, and the long-term costs associated with nuclear, should be opened up to more accountability, not less.’
No related posts.
Tags: Gina Dowding, Nuclear
