South Down MP Margaret Ritchie (SDLP) has called on the British Government to take note of the Swiss referendum on the future of Nuclear power stations in their country and allow people here to decide the future of the UK’s nuclear network.
The South Down MP said: “Not only are we facing the problem that an entire generation of British nuclear facilities are coming to the end of their useful life and that no plan exists for disposing of the consequential nuclear waste, but the British Government are continuing to green light new nuclear facilities without allowing for a national conversation or consultation.
“At the moment Sellafield is home to 80% of Britain’s nuclear waste which includes the largest stockpile in the world of reactor grade plutonium. Britain is actually importing nuclear waste from across the globe for treatment at aging plants less than a hundred miles from Ireland’s densely populated eastern seaboard.
“Preparatory work on a new 3.4 billion watt facility at Moorside near Sellafield has already begun and it is feared this will become Europe’s largest nuclear operation.
“The referendum in Switzerland has, in contrast to the recent Brexit campaign, been one in which the Swiss people have carefully and respectfully balanced the issues at hand. It is beyond time that we have a sensible and rational conversation on nuclear power covering not only the health and security risks it poses but also the financial and environmental damage it causes. A referendum on the future of British nuclear network would allow that.”
