Millom nuclear plan: consultation begins
Last updated at 09:34, Friday, 17 April 2009
AN official government consultation was set to begin today on plans to build a new nuclear power plant near Millom.
Farmland at Layriggs in Kirksanton was nominated by energy company RWE npower last month.
The public can now have their say on the plans – which could see a nuclear plant built 200 yards from villagers’ doorsteps. Land at Braystones near Egremont and Sellafield are also possible nuclear power station sites being considered. Government approval will be given to a selected number of the nominations in August.
A Kirksanton village action group has been set up to fight the nomination. Group spokesman Michael Wills today said: “Sites can still be taken off the list because the government won’t officially nominate anything until August. The nomination document has been made available today. At the moment we are looking very carefully at the document and then point out things that maybe wrong with it.
“A lot of people are very surprised it has been nominated and we think it is unsuitable. We will continue to fight.”
All the sites have been put forward for the list by various companies, including the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, which owns Sellafield, EDF and E.On.
RWE npower carried out an informal public consultation before putting the Kirksanton site forward for the project.
Villagers packed into Kirksanton Village Hall to quiz RWE bosses on the plans. The plant could create 1,000 jobs and power five million homes. Nuclear development manager for RWE npower Stuart Dagnall said: “We have nominated two potential sites for a new nuclear power station in Cumbria into the Government’s Strategic Siting Assessment process.
“The details of the nomination have been made public today and there will be several opportunities for the public to comment throughout the rest of the year.
“We welcome the support we’ve found in Cumbria, and the recognition of the major economic boost a new power station could bring to the area. Equally we are very aware that some people have real concerns and questions. We’d like to reassure everyone that we are at a very early stage in the process of evaluating sites.”
lDetails can be seen at public libraries and by visiting www.nuclearpowersiting.decc.gov.uk
First published at 11:51, Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
I have lived in Millom all my life and seen its decline due to loss of its industrial heritage, What is there in Millom or the surrounding area to attract tourists in large numbers thus providing jobs for this or the next generation. When holiday attractions are proposed like Wellbank camp some time ago they are turned down. It seem that neither industry or tourism is wanted for this area. So its about time that we get something that will provide jobs and security for local people in the future and thus keep young people in the area.The objectors dont think about the future only a nuclear legacy but they still go home to switch on the lights etc. I wonder if they think about how its produced and what sort of legacy will we leave if future generations cant produce power because the wind farms arnt capable and have been objected to and fossil fuels have run out.
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I have just read Anthony Kirby's letter saying that he ought to defend the people of Millom. No one is attacking the people of Millom and their qualifications. Both my sons were born and bred in the area and are professionals. What L Hodgson , I think , was trying to say was that all these jobs will never materialise. On my way home from Barrow on a Friday I often pass a long continuous line of traffic from Sellafield leaving the area to their homes in Cheshire, Lancashire etc. If we have the skills in this area why haven't these jobs gone to local people. Why are some many people outside the county working at Sellafield and taking our jobs . This will happen at Millom too.
Posted by DB on 19 May 2009 at 19:38