Hinkley Point Protest Tomorrow---Undemoctatic Process Causes Us All Concern!

Protests grow against lack of local voices in nuclear new build plans


Tuesday, 12 January 2010

Radiation Free Lakeland have given their support to the Stop Hinkley's demonstration on Friday against EDF.

A demonstration is taking place outside the Bridgwater offices of Electricite de France (EDF) in protest at the lack of real local involvement in the proposal to build a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point.

It seems to be a common theme across the country as local voices are being ignored under a welter of spin and propaganda.
The final decision about this major project “the largest nuclear plant ever proposed in the UK“ will be made by a new Government quango, the Infrastructure Planning Commission.

The IPC is an unelected body whose members have been appointed by the government to implement its energy policy which is in favour of new nuclear build.
The IPC will decide on all aspects of Hinkley C, not just the power station. This includes the proposed new roads, workers hostels and park and ride facilities that are already causing massive local controversy.
Elected local authorities Sedgemoor, West Somerset and Somerset County Council will have no control over these decisions.
When the last Hinkley C proposal was made in the late 1980s there was a public inquiry which lasted for many months and allowed local people a proper voice. Somerset County, West Somerset and Sedgemoor Councils were all involved.

This time round there will be no local hearings and no guarantee that local people will have a voice in the IPC proceedings, which will be held in London.
The nuclear industry has lobbied hard for the IPC to help implement projects such as Hinkley C as fast as possible. In the process, local democracy is being ignored.
Marianne Birkby founder of Radiation Free Lakeland says: “The injustice of the process as well as the opposition to new build is uniting communities throughout the UK.
“I will be taking along the "Flying Pigs Proclamation" to the sham consultation at Sellafield on Wednesday.
“The government are pushing for new nuclear build with the help of dodgy dossiers such as the draft National Nuclear Policy Statement , the dodgy content of which is being repeated at all the 'Site Consultations' throughout the UK.
“As well as this manipulation of the truth - people are then denied any opportunity to present evidence which will be considered.
“After February 22 2010 the Government wants to ensure that there will be NO further public scrutiny on issues such as waste from nuclear reactors.
“Cumbria has voluntarily "expressed an interest" in geological disposal – the Government has written into the draft National Nuclear Policy Statement that Cumbria could well be forced to accept waste/reactors whether it wants it or not and without any objective scientific scrutiny.