Radiation Free Lakeland has sent an open letter to the new Bishop of Carlisle who has indicated his support for the nuclear industry.

The Right Reverend James Newcome believes Cumbria is on the brink of a new dawn with regeneration schemes such as Carlisle Renaissance and Britain’s Energy Coast promising to breathe new life into the area following a period of decline.

And he has pledged to lead over the next 10 to 15 years as the Carlisle diocese introduces new ways of engaging with groups across Cumbria, particularly the young, farming and rural communities.

He will become the 67th Bishop of Carlisle following the recent retirement of Bishop Graham Dow.

Bishop James, 55, is already well known across the county and since 2002 he has been the Suffragan Bishop of Penrith.

Marianne Birkby’s open letter on behalf of Radiation Free Lakeland says: “Turning water into wine may have been a fantastic miracle, but producing huge amounts of radioactive water is a horrible daily reality here in Cumbria.

“So  passing on a legacy of yet more radioactive wastes to our Cumbrian children and grandchildren is hardly an act of Christian charity.

“New nuclear build and associated waste 'disposal'  must  rank at the top end of all nasty enterprises that have been blessed in the name of Jesus.

“As head of the Church of England in the Cumbrian area your 'blessing' enthusiastically endorses nuclear power which carries on turning freshwater into radioactive water long after any electricity production has ceased.

“Reflecting on the widespread and entirely rational, evidence based concerns of Cumbrians about the dangers of nuclear power and nuclear proliferation, and acknowledging these in your public statements would be a Christian act.”

The new man for Carlisle has said that he hoped to be a bishop for the county as well as the church and would support farmers, teachers and the tourism and nuclear industries.

After his appointment he said: “We have had a long period of decline in the city, in the Church and in the county and Cumbria was at one point the only county economy that was declining in this country.

“But there are a lot of new and exciting things that are happening here like Carlisle Renaissance, the future of the nuclear industry and the west coast, and the building of the new marina in Barrow and that bodes well for our future.”

Bishop James (pictured alongside) is also aware of some of the challenges he and his team will face, including the impact the recession on Church finances.

A former ambulance driver, Bishop James also hopes to work more closely with the county’s emergency services.

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