OSTRICH MENTALITY IS CAUSE OF WYLFA WOES (Eleanor Burnham )

Cymraeg
English

Eleanor Burnham <info@eburnham.org.uk>

OSTRICH MENTALITY IS CAUSE OF WYLFA WOES

May 22, 2006 12:06 PM

Today, Jenny Willott and Eleanor Burnham have slammed successive Labour and Tory Governments for their roles in creating the dilemma facing the people of Anglesey over the closure of Wylfa nuclear power station in 2010.

Energy campaigner and Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Cardiff Central Jenny Willott said:

"The closure deadline for Wylfa nuclear plant has been publicly known for decades. The level of inaction by successive Tory and Labour Governments to prepare for life after Wylfa has been utterly atrocious. They have, quite simply, adopted the Ostrich Mentality and buried their heads in the sand - that's why hundreds of jobs on Anglesey are facing such an uncertain future.

"The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority has repeatedly ruled out any chance of the plant being extended. This is a lost cause. The idea that a second nuclear power plant on Anglesey could plug the gap left by Wylfa is equally unrealistic as it would take at least 10 years to build one. Wylfa will be closed in 4 years."

Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member Eleanor Burnham represents North Wales and recently visited Anglesey Aluminium, which receives its energy from Wylfa. Mrs Burnham said:

"I am deeply concerned about the hundreds of jobs dependent on Wylfa, especially those working in the plant and at Anglesey Aluminium nearby. They have been slowly but severely let down by Labour and the Tories by their constant refusal to take any kind of a decision.

"The Government must now make-up for its earlier incompetence by being straight with the people of Anglesey. There are inevitably some very difficult decisions to take. But the Government cannot allow the hope of extending the life of Wylfa to continue when it knows that it is simply impossible. By acting early and being honest with people, I hope that the Government can soften the blow of closing the plant and find viable alternatives for companies like Anglesey Aluminium."

ENDS

Notes to the Editors:

- On commissioning in 1971, the designers of Wylfa nuclear power plant envisaged its life span to be 20-25 years.