Nuclear collision between Cardiff and London
The Wales Anti-Nuclear Alliance and the Nuclear Consultation Group has had meetings over the past year and a half with Jane Davidson AM, the Minister for Environment in the One Wales government to discuss the threat of building new nuclear power stations. These discussions focussed on the great problems of dealing with hot and intensively radioactive nuclear waste produced from high burn-up nuclear fuel that would be used in new nuclear reactors. Jane Davidson has responsibility for managing nuclear waste in Wales.
On behalf of PAWB, in June this year Dr. Carl Clowes wrote to Jane Davidson calling for the Welsh Assembly Government to invoke its powers as a Justifying Authority under the terms of a 2005 Concordat also signed by the Department of Energy and Climate Change in England, and the devolved administrations in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Secondly he called for a clear statement on the Assembly government’s position on the hot and intensely radioactive waste that would be produced from high burn-up fuel in possible new nuclear reactors.
In response, Jane Davidson confirmed the view expressed by Rhodri Morgan in June 2007 that there is no need for new nuclear power stations in Wales, as we will be more than self-sufficient in electricity generation within a few years. Jane Davidson also indicated she had written to the Department of Energy and Climate Change calling for “a public inquiry into the request for justification into the request for the proposed new nuclear reactors, on the grounds of concern over the safety and security of the management of future nuclear waste”.
Dr.Clowes commented:
“Here is an example of a Minister carrying out her work diligently and thoroughly on behalf of the people of Wales. This collision between the Welsh Assembly Government and the Department of Energy and Climate Change as the relevant Justifying Authorities for new nuclear build is highly significant, and makes it very unlikely that we will see any further development of nuclear power stations in Wales”.
Jane Davidson’s statement creates an opportunity for politicians at all levels of government on Ynys Môn to focus their energies on making the island Europe’s leading eco-island with all the exciting possibilities of creating employment in renewable energy and energy conservation”.
