RADIATION Free Lakeland is backing a letter sent by the Nuclear Free Local Authorities group to the new Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Chris Huhne (pictured).

Marianne Birkby says that RFL fully endorses the NFLA call for an end to the taxpayer picking up the tab for the nuclear industry's waste. 

She explains: “The proposed  "fixed unit price" for  "waste disposal" amounts to billions of pounds in subsidy that makes the politicians'  expenses scandal look piffling in comparison.

“Ministers have asked which laws people would like to see revoked. Radiation Free Lakeland request that the law is revoked which allows radioactive waste in landfill.  This laws run  counter to the protection of human health and the environment. 

“At Lillyhall in Cumbria  there is a landfill site to which no one objected in 2004 when the planning application was for a “composting and material processing area.” 

“Following a law quietly passed in 2007  Low Level Waste was re-classified as High Volume Very Low Level Waste suitable for landfill.  Lillyhall is now receiving  radioactive detritus – no planning application needed!

“Landfill in Cumbria and elsewhere is set to be filled with millions of tonnes of radioactive rubble and soil from Chapel Cross in Scotland and other nuclear installations.

“While Cumbrians are Reducing, Reusing and Recycling, the nuclear industry is desperate to fill our landfill with contaminated detritus in order to make room for new nuclear build.

“We also support the call for a full and independent public inquiry before approving the "justification" decision into any alleged benefit of nuclear power over critical issues such as the medical effects of low level radiation, nuclear safety, long-term radioactive waste management policy and the links between nuclear power and nuclear weapons proliferation.”

The UK and Ireland Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) is a cross-party body with representatives from 11 political parties on the Steering Committee.

It puts forward concerns around the development of nuclear power, radioactive waste management and nuclear weapons proliferation (where it interacts with the Foreign Office).

George Regan, chair of UK and Ireland Nuclear Free Local Authorities says in his letter to Huhne – “Your professed public scepticism about nuclear power tallies very much with the view of the NFLA and so we were disappointed to see that, in the agreed coalition agreement for the new government, the Liberal Democrats are to abstain on nuclear power matters and allow your deputies to bring forward a new nuclear build programme.

“We are though heartened by your continued comments that new nuclear build will not be provided with any public subsidy.

“We would like therefore to get your views on two specific areas where this policy can be considered at this particular juncture of the debate.

“Firstly, your predecessor Ed Miliband and his civil servants opened a consultation in March 2010, running until 18th June, which seeks views on the facilitative actions for new nuclear build around the agreed funding of radioactive waste and decommissioning programme for any new nuclear power station. This relates to actions required under the 2008 Energy Act.

“The NFLA have considered this consultation carefully and informed all our members of our suggested response through our publication, New Nuclear Monitor Edition 21.

“The NFLA is very concerned that, as part of the consultation, the Government will set a" fixed unit price" for waste "disposal" when approval is given for a new reactor.

“In the view of the NFLA, this effectively caps the cost to the operator of nuclear waste disposal and transfers the risk of cost overruns to the taxpayer. In other words, is this not effectively an indirect public subsidy to the industry which could cost the UK taxpayer billions of pounds?

“The NFLA would therefore ask you to consider withdrawing this consultation, rethinking it and addressing how the economics of new nuclear build will be addressed, and how the new Government will guarantee its pledge of no public subsidies for new nuclear build.

“Secondly, and perhaps even more importantly, the previous Government had opened a consultation on its draft decision that new nuclear power stations can be "justified" under European environmental law.

“A final public decision from this consultation is still awaited. The NFLA, amongst many other groups, urged the Government to hold a public inquiry to ensure critical issues such as the medical effects of low level radiation, nuclear safety, long-term radioactive waste management policy and the links between nuclear power and nuclear weapons proliferation could be adequately considered before such a final decision on the potential benefits of developing a new nuclear build programme could be made.

“The NFLA therefore urge you, as the new Energy and Climate Change Secretary, to call for a public inquiry before approving the "justification" decision.

“Finally, the media has noted that you have been in communication with a number of leading figures from the nuclear industry. The NFLA would urge you to consider holding a meeting with groups who are concerned about a nuclear new build programme to evaluate the alternative view which has tallied with your official party policy throughout the election campaign.

“We would be very happy to be part of such a meeting and can recommend other group representatives who would wish to be involved.”

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