Hunterston reactor cracks: Green MSP wants public to have a say
A Green MSP is challenging the Scottish Government to give the community living near the Hunterston B nuclear power station a say in any decision to extend the plant’s lifetime after reports emerged today that cracks have been discovered in a reactor.
West of Scotland MSP Ross Greer says the lack of public consultation has been unacceptable while highlighting that European law says all ageing nuclear power stations should have an environmental impact assessment comparing their continued operation against alternative sources of energy such as renewables.
If the local community is given a say, Greer is confident that they would reject an ageing, cracking, “safety hazard”.
Scottish Green MSPs published a report in January 2017 urging the Scottish Government to review safety conditions at the site following earlier reports of cracks and the repeated granting of lifetime extensions to the power station which was originally expected to close in 2006.
Ross Greer MSP said:
“This is obviously of major safety and economic concern to the local community. Last year I published a report urging the Scottish Government to review safety conditions at the site following earlier reports of cracks and the repeated granting of lifetime extensions to the plant. The local community currently has no say in decisions to extend a plant’s lifetime as an Environmental Impact Assessment with a public consultation is not required.
“The government must reconsider its position on the need for an Environmental Impact Assessment to accompany decisions on the granting of lifetime extensions to ageing nuclear power stations and commit to a renewed transition plan for North Ayrshire which will prevent the community being left behind, as so many others have been, by the closure of aging power stations.”