Lib Dems fear Sizewell has similarities with Fukushima
Friday, 18th March 2011.
The policy of storing spent fuel in ponds at the Sizewell nuclear power station in Suffolk, as at the damaged plant in Japan, has been criticised by Liberal Democrat councillors.
Lib Dems expressed grave concerns about Suffolk County Council's policy on nuclear waste disposal and voted against plans for more incinerators in the county.
At today’s meeting of the council, councillors were being asked to endorse the blueprint for waste disposal for the next 15 years.
Lib Dems opposed the adoption of the county council waste plan.
Their environment spokesman Cllr John Field said: “Policy WMD15 allows treatment and storage of spent fuel at Sizewell nuclear power station in ponds.
"Considering that it is spent fuel that is on fire at Fukushima, due merely to loss of water in the cooling tank, we believe it fundamentally wrong to accept a similar technology in a policy which will last for 15 years.
"The policy should define a less accident-prone technology for the medium-term storage of this highly dangerous fuel.”
On the subject of waste disposal, Cllr Field said: “The waste plan selects four major sites for disposal but does not define what technology is to be used.
"It is the choice of technology, and in particular the prospect of further incinerator plants, that strikes fear into local residents.
"People are worried about the impact of incinerators on their health – particularly, for example, those with respiratory conditions like asthma.
"We totally accept that we need a policy on waste disposal but believe people want to know whether they’re going to get even more incinerators. This strategy document fails to define what they’re planning for these sites.”
On the subject of nuclear waste Cllr Field said:
Lib Dems expressed grave concerns about Suffolk County Council's policy on nuclear waste disposal and voted against plans for more incinerators in the county.
At today’s meeting of the council, councillors were being asked to endorse the blueprint for waste disposal for the next 15 years.
Lib Dems opposed the adoption of the county council waste plan.
Their environment spokesman Cllr John Field said: “Policy WMD15 allows treatment and storage of spent fuel at Sizewell nuclear power station in ponds.
"Considering that it is spent fuel that is on fire at Fukushima, due merely to loss of water in the cooling tank, we believe it fundamentally wrong to accept a similar technology in a policy which will last for 15 years.
"The policy should define a less accident-prone technology for the medium-term storage of this highly dangerous fuel.”
On the subject of waste disposal, Cllr Field said: “The waste plan selects four major sites for disposal but does not define what technology is to be used.
"It is the choice of technology, and in particular the prospect of further incinerator plants, that strikes fear into local residents.
"People are worried about the impact of incinerators on their health – particularly, for example, those with respiratory conditions like asthma.
"We totally accept that we need a policy on waste disposal but believe people want to know whether they’re going to get even more incinerators. This strategy document fails to define what they’re planning for these sites.”
On the subject of nuclear waste Cllr Field said:
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