News

Concerns over the decision of the Energy Secretary to exclude Dungeness from the list of preferred sires for new nuclear power stations continues to grow.

I have received many letters and emails reflecting the puzzlement with which many local people have greeted this announcement.

Since I wrote about it last week I have had a better opportunity to study the Government’s reasoning in detail. Annexe F of the Government’s Consultation Document sets out the assessment of the suitability of Dungeness in some detail.

It took into account the demographics of the area and the proximity of the Lydd Training Area and found that they did not constitute any valid reason for rejecting the site. Similar considerations, and a similar conclusion, relate to the proximity of the airport.

On the risk of flooding, tsunami and storm surge, the Environment Agency advised that there is potential to protect the site. It reached a similar conclusion on the need to protect the site from coastal erosion.

The sole reason, therefore, for the rejection of Dungeness was the effect that a new station would have on the ecology of the site. The site is considered to be of European nature conservation importance and therefore of particular need of protection.

But the conclusion of the assessment was that “only some impacts on European sites could be avoided or mitigated and that compensation for remaining impacts would be difficult.”

It did not conclude that such compensation would be impossible. And, as we know, there are two nuclear stations already on the site, surely a factor of major significance.

The good news is that the Government’s decision is provisional.

There is now a consultation exercise which concludes on 22 February 2010.

I shall certainly be making my representations. After all, the Secretary of State confirmed to me in the House of Commons last week that the Government would carefully consider all representations and that Natural England would not have a veto.

If you want to join in, responses should be sent to:-

Robin Clarke
OPM
252b Gray’s Inn Road
London
WC1X 8XG

Fax: 0845 055 1700 (FAO Robin Clarke)
Email: energynpsconsultation@opm.co.uk