Following yesterday's publication of the Energy White Paper, the following statements have been issued by the relevant Cumbria County Council Cabinet members.
Cllr Timothy Heslop, cabinet member responsible for economy and regeneration, said:
"It is clear that Britain needs to diversify its energy supply and the drive for energy efficiency and to develop cleaner and renewable sources of energy is a welcome one. We need to encourage homegrown energy supplies and we need to do this quickly. However, while speed is of the essence, we also need to ensure that local voices are heard and the Government must not steamroll over local opinion in any drive to build new nuclear power stations and major windfarms. The process to identify and develop disposal facilities for nuclear waste has some way to go and, until further progrees is made, a measured approach to nuclear new build is essential."
Cllr Ian Stewart, cabinet member responsible for environment, transport and planning, said:
"The county council has until October 10 to issue a full response to the consultation on nuclear power and we will use that time to fully consider all the implications. Such an important issue needs a proper consultation time - and it also needs proper consultation rather than some of the 'token gestures' we have seen recently in areas such as post office closures and changes in the cross country rail network. But it is clear that there is a shift in planning decisions for major infrastructure projects to a national level. The national decision makers must not forget the importance of local opinion as they push ahead. It is local people who have to live next to the energy plants of the future."
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