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Dear Editor,

Re: Support for third Dungeness Nuclear Power Station from Howard
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that Dungeness will not be completely ruled out.

Mr Brown went on to say: “We only announced the first round, therefore the chance of this happening here is still something that has got to be looked at for the future."

At the same time MP Michael Howard has said he would fight the Government’s decision to scrap plans for a new nuclear power station at Dungeness.

I think Gordon Brown and Michael Howard are trying to score election Brownie points here.

I attended a meeting with The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) in London last Tuesday (17th Nov) where we (KARE), alongside other NGO's, The Environment Agency, HSE and Nuclear Regulators discussed the New Nuclear Build Proposals. I spoke to two of DECC’s senior representatives about the possible reversal of the decision to exclude Dungeness from the 'New Build' list that Gordon and Michael are so keen to do.

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) which are part of the Natura 2000 network and it is also a proposed 'Ramsar Site'- an area of protected wetlands.

Also, 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, 'For the future', as Gordon says, well that’s no sooner than 2025, and only then if the SSSI status of Dungeness is diminished and the sea has not taken over.

Nil Points for that one I'm afraid Gordon or Michael.

Barrie Botley

Kent Against a Radioactive Environment (KARE)