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I think Gordon is trying to score Brownie points here.

I attended a meeting with The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) in London last Tuesday (17th Nov) where we, alongside other NGO's, The Environment Agency, HSE and Nuclear Regulators discussed the New Nuclear Build Proposals. I spoke to two of their top men about the possible reversal of the decision to exclude Dungeness from the 'New Build' list.

I am told that Natural England (and others) put forward such a strong case that it was impossible under the EU Habitats Directive to include Dungeness.

Since the 'B' station was built the Dungeness SSSI has had more important statuses designated. It is now an SPA (Special Protection Area) an SAC (Special Area for Conservation) and is a proposed 'Ramsar Site'- an area of protected wetlands.

In their Site Assessment for Dungeness DECC say: "it does not believe that a new nuclear power station can be built at Dungeness without causing an adverse effect on the integrity of the SAC (i.e. that any impacts could not be avoided or mitigated).

The Government also has concerns under criterion D2 (coastal processes), but concluded that at this stage that Dungeness should not be ruled out against this criterion."

Also,they go on to say that the Government are satisfied that the 10 selected sites will be more than adequate to meet our electricity needs until 2025 (even if 1 or 2 sites fall off the list for any reason) So, 'The Future', as Gordon says, is 2025, and only then if the SSSI status of Dungeness is diminished.

No Brownie Points for that one I'm afraid Gordon.