Clegg clouds issues over nuclear sites

CAMPAIGNERS opposed to a new nuclear power station near Bristol said they were becoming worried about mixed messages on the funding of proposed atomic plants.

During a visit to the city at the weekend, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg told the

He was reaffirming Coalition Government policy that energy companies would have to go it alone to introduce the next generation of reactors.

But Energy Minister and Conservative Charles Hendry said in a recent interview that although he considered something specifically for the nuclear industry to be a subsidy, help for all low-carbon generation would be of a general nature.

Members of Shepperdine Against Nuclear Energy (SANE) said Mr Hendry’s comments concerned them.

SANE was set up a year ago to oppose the use of land at Shepperdine, near Thornbury, for a new station that would be much bigger than the Oldbury plant.

They are fighting not just the process of atomic generation but also the storage of radioactive waste on site and the need for massive cooling towers, each up to 200 metres (656ft) tall.

Members had hoped the huge cost of setting up new reactors, dealing with atomic waste, reprocessing and decommissioning would be too great without a subsidy. But they are now questioning whether the industry will be supported through other means.

Mr Clegg’s Liberal Democrat party has long been opposed to new reactors but it was one of the areas of compromise when the Coalition Government was formed.

Mr Clegg, speaking after his question and answer session in the @Bristol centre, said the nuclear question was a “difficult and sensitive” issue.

He said: “We as a party were not persuaded of the merits of further nuclear expansion but we are in a coalition with a party that is.

“It is for the nuclear industry to show how it can expand without any subsidy from the tax payer.”

Under the coalition agreement, the Lib Dems can maintain their opposition to nuclear power and abstain in Parliamentary votes.

David Taylor, spokesman for the Stop Hinkley, Shut Oldbury campaign, said there were a number of ways the nuclear industry could be helped, such as fixing a price for nuclear disposal.

He said: “It’s fair to say Charles Hendry has partially let the cat out of the bag.”

Nuclear power company Horizon wants to build its first station at Wylfa in Anglesey first, followed by Shepperdine, if the final go-ahead is given.