The letter attached below has been approved by the NFLA Chair George Regan.

Re: Still Working for a Nuclear Free City?

I would like to take some issue with the Mule over the article ‘Still Working for a Nuclear Free City?’

The point the NFLA was making is that in the midst of an international recession the NFLA recognises there is a real and urgent need for higly skilled jobs and the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre may provide such jobs. Where research is undertaken in dealing with the major problems of dealing with the UK’s huge radioactive waste legacy and decommissioning redundant reactors the NFLA would welcome enhanced research. However, the NFLA would like to see much more investment go into research to enhance the renweable energy sector, which is not being provided with such healthy funding, despite the Government pledging to do so through the ‘Green New Deal’. The NFLA has asked the Energy Minister to fund a Renewable Energy Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and sees great potential in developing all aspects of renewable energy, energy efficiency and challenging the real problems of fuel poverty.

I would take issue with nuclear being classed as low carbon. The raw material for nuclear power – uranium – is being extensively mined using carbon heavy methods and there is considerable research that the world is hitting peak uranium supplies. Such mining then will only have to become more intensive and carbon heavy. Nuclear new build also has other major questions against it – financial costs, waste management problems, safety, specialist labour shortage and the long time period to build such reactors while the climate change clock is ticking. Unless such matters are dealt with adequately real problems will lay for future generations to deal with.

The NFLA provides an independent assessment of nuclear energy and its alternatives, and the continuing concerns over nuclear weapons proliferation. Our website http://www.nuclearpolicy.info shows that we offer a clear and principled response on all aspects of nuclear policy for our members.

Yours sincerely,
Councillor George Regan
Chair of UK and Ireland Nuclear Free Local Authorities

SERCO are one of the biggest Nuclear Arms manufacturers in the world. This already breaks … See Morethe rules on calling urself a ‘nuclear free city’. Asked Cllr Swannick about it two years ago…about how he let it happen? He said there is a such this as ‘good economics’ and ‘bad economics’…disgusting!