Letter from Steve Webb MP--No to nuclear power at Oldbury

Steve confirms he does not want another nuclear power plant at Oldbury:---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for the message.

I'm more than happy to ask further factual questions of the Minister, and
will get these off shortly. I'll let you know when I hear any more.

Regarding the IPC, we vigorously objected to this mechanism when it was
introduced under the Planning Bill, precisely because it bypasses local
democratic accountability. As you will appreciate, the Government has the
votes to force things through and it did so. However, when the Secretary of
State made his recent statement on nuclear in the House, my response to him
was precisely about the point that if local people objected to what was
going on they seemed to have relatively little voice in the process. This
is what I said and this is his response:

"Steve Webb (Northavon) (LD): The proposed Oldbury B power station, unlike
the existing one next to it in my constituency, would have a very high
cooling tower. If my constituents objected to that because of the visual
impact and other factors, would they actually be listened to-not just
heard-or would their views be overridden? The document states that the
national need for stations is the most important factor.

Edward Miliband: The distinction I have tried to draw is between the
national need, which is important to establish, and specific developments,
on which it is important that the IPC can take a view. To reassure the hon.
Gentleman, the IPC will absolutely take a view on whether that specific
development is appropriate."

Best wishes,

Steve W.