Cumbrian villages ruled out as new nuclear sites

THE Government has ruled out the West Cumbrian villages of Kirksanton and Braystones as possible sites for new nuclear power stations.

They were among 11 locations nominated in April 2009 by energy companies Eon, EDF and RWE Npower that want to build the new reactors.

Dungeness in Kent was also struck from the list leaving eight potential sites named by the Government yesterday including Heysham in Lancashire and Sellafield. 

Kirksanton and Braystones were the only sites not to have previously had nuclear plants and the new power stations would have occupied farm land.

The Department for Energy and Climate Change said the villages were unsuitable due to doubts about their ability to contribute to new nuclear capacity before 2025 and concerns about the visual impact on the Lake District National Park.

Cumbria County Council welcomed the decision having previously argued that Sellafield, where an existing reactor is being decomissioned, should be the preferred site.

Cllr Tim Knowles, cabinet member responsible for environment, said: “This announcement brings some welcome clarity to the communities of Kirksanton and Braystones. People living there have faced an uncertain future, not knowing whether they would soon have a nuclear power station built next to them.

“For some, that has meant they’ve been unable to sell their house or make long-term plans. We are now going forward with the clarity that Sellafield is the most suitable site for a new nuclear power station in Cumbria and the industry will now focus on that site.”