24/1/2006 - Cumbria works on UK Energy Review

A specialist team of consultants has been hired to report on the implications of building a new generation of nuclear power stations in light of the Government's UK Energy Policy Review.

Cumbria County Council has teamed-up with Allerdale and Copeland borough councils and West Lakes Renaissance to engage the services of   Environmental Resources Management Ltd (ERM) and Integrated Decision Management Ltd.

The two expert companies will work together to produce a report on the analysing the implications for Cumbria thrown up by the possibility that the Government might decide to develop a new generation nuclear power stations.

The report will be finished in time to help provide the county council and its partners with the information respond to the Government's Energy Review public consultation deadline in April this year.

Tim Heslop, Cumbria County Council spokesman on nuclear issues, said: "The fact that we are all working together to commission this report does not imply that any conclusions on the desirability of new nuclear power stations have been reached.

"But it would be naive of us all not to recognise that sites with existing nuclear facilities are likely to be strong candidates for housing any new reactors which might be built. 

"We have employed two of the very best companies in the field analyse the situation so we can all make informed decisions on the issue."

All the partners will respond the public consultation on the Government's energy policy review which will consider the use of a range of energy sources such as coal, gas and nuclear as well as sustainable sources like wind, water, biomass and energy from waste.