24th May 2007

Martin Whiteside, Stroud Green Party Parliamentary Spokesperson condemns plans for new nukes in letter to local press. Three West Country sites have been favoured for new nuclear reactors in a newly revealed report. Hinkley Point is at the top of the list showing in order of preference while Oldbury is eleventh down the list and Berkeley is thirteenth.  Photo: Oldbury power station

News that new nuclear power stations could be built on existing sites,
such as Oldbury (16 miles upwind from Stroud), reveals that any consultation
exercise over whether we need new nuclear power stations at all is just
another sham.

The fact remains that nuclear power is dirty, dangerous - and
formidably expensive. Contrary to the Government’s protestations,
nuclear plants over their full life cycle generate considerable CO2
emissions - this includes mining ever more costly uranium which studies
show there is barely 50 years of global supply remaining.

Crucially nuclear would also divert investment away from the renewables
sector, increase the amount of nuclear materials available for
terrorists to target, and increase the possibility of a devastating
Chernobyl-style accident. Already last week we saw one of Oldbury's
ancient and damaged reactors restarted despite independent scientists
saying this was highly risky.

The Governments' Planning White Paper on Monday tried to circumvent
local participation in major planning decisions relating to new power
stations.  If democratic routes of objecting to these proposals are
closed off, then we can expect the hundreds of thousands of people
directly threatened by these plans  to make their voice heard, by whatever peaceful means are necessary, and I, for one, will be joining them.

Martin WhitesideParent, District Councillor and Stroud Green Party Parliamentary Spokesperson

Thrupp, Stroud