“Nuclear is dirty, dangerous and expensive and it's time to phase it out."
Ahead of the European elections leading Green MEP candidates around the country are staging a series of actions to protest against the Coalition Government’s damaging policy of investment in nuclear energy.
South East Region
Keith Taylor, the Green Party's MEP for South East England, has written to Michael Fallon urging him not to allow Dungeness Power Station to continue operation:
"I know that many of my constituents are deeply concerned about the prospect of Dungeness Nuclear Power station continuing to operate. It's particularly worrying that Lydd Airport, which sits next door to Dungeness, is planning to expand and have larger jets taking off and landing on a regular basis.
Nuclear is dirty, dangerous and expensive and it's time to phase it out."
Eastern Region
Rupert Read, lead Green Party MEP-candidate in the East of England, and national Green Party Transport Spokesperson, is launching his report on why we need a green energy revolution on Wednesday 19March along with Sir Jonathon at a series of events in Norfolk and Suffolk. As part of this day, Porritt is speaking at Sizewell on “Why Nuclear Power Still Makes no Sense”, with Read in attendance.
Rupert Read commented: "Nuclear power is a dangerous distraction from the energy revolution we actually need. Dangerous because it distracts us as a nation from the investment we need to be making instead in cutting out energy-waste and in backing the free energy of the sun, the wind, the waves and the tides; and dangerous quite literally because it is so toxic. After Fukushima, virtually no-one outside a few companies with their snouts in the trough of public subsidy wants nuclear power."
South West Region
Molly Scott Cato, Green Party MEP candidate in the South West, and Finance Spokesperson will be sending comments into the European Commission to complain about the public underwriting of HInkley.
“The financial deal over Hinkley makes no sense. Why should the people of the South West be exposed to radiation so that taxpayers' money can be channeled to a French company and the Chinese Communist Party? The submission of the proposal for state aid determination proves that the government broke its promise on not subsidising nuclear new-build. We are still hopeful that the EU Commission will refuse permission for a deal that not only undermines competition in the energy industry but also puts the future of the South West excellent renewable energy businesses at risk.”
North West Region
Following a vigil held at Heysham nuclear power station to mark the third anniversary of Fukushima, Councillor Gina Dowding, North West Green Party European election candidate, has written to Lancashire County Council. She's raising local people's concerns about sea level rises at Heysham nuclear power station in Lancashire.
She said: "People are concerned about how flooding will affect Heysham Nuclear power stations, and would like to know how they are preparing for climate change-induced sea level rises and storm surges. We want Lancashire County Council to ask EDF, the operator of Heysham nuclear power stations, how they are preparing for climate change-induced sea level rises and storm surges. How can we be sure that flooding will not cause nuclear waste leaks? We want the operators to explain how the nuclear power stations can continue producing waste if there are no safe solutions for long-term storage."