Oldbury still on nuclear shortlist

OLDBURY is still considered a suitable site for a new nuclear power station.

The announcement today by Chris Huhne, Secretary of State Energy, will be a blow to local campaigners who had hoped the Oldbury site would be removed from a list of preferred sites released by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC).

Oldbury is one of eight sites considered suitable in the revised draft Nuclear National Policy Statement, made by the coalition government.

The Labour government previously released a list of 10 sites but Braystones and Kirksanton, both in Cumbria, are no longer considered suitable.

Steve Webb, MP for Thornbury and Yate, said: "This is disappointing news. We made a powerful case that this isn’t the right place. As any dogged campaigner we don’t take no for an answer."

DECC has now launched a new three-month consultation on its revised draft Nuclear National Policy Statement.

The consultation can be found at www.energynpsconsultation.decc.gov.uk Members of the public have until January 24, 2011 to comment.