10,000 jobs may be created at Sellafield
Last updated at 12:20, Friday, 23 January 2009
More than £2 billion could be pumped into the Cumbrian economy and 10,000 jobs created as Sellafield looks set to house a new nuclear reactor.
The Nuclear Decommissioning Agency confirmed today it expects to nominate Sellafield, Wylfa, Oldbury and Bradwell as potential sites for new nuclear power stations.
The multi-billion pound investment for the area could bring £2 billion to the local economy, create 1,000 permanent skilled worker positions during its lifetime and 9,000 jobs during its construction.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who was due to visit the site today, said: “The NDA’s announcement today on potential new build sites is good news and I welcome this. With such deep-rooted ties to the nuclear industry Sellafield is in a strong position to benefit.”
Mr Brown said nuclear was “crucial to our low carbon future” and represented a massive opportunity for the UK economy and jobs.
“Industry are investing billions into the UK economy, jobs are being created and supply chain opportunities are developing,” he added.
Mr Brown has repeatedly called for the UK to increase its nuclear power capacity as an alternative to burning fossil fuels, which many experts believe to be a cause of climate change.
In January ministers announced that they backed new plants and published a review of possible sites where there have been nuclear power plants before.
Copeland MP Jamie Reed said: “I’ve been arguing for Sellafield as a new build for some time. There is still a lot of work to do but today’s announcement is extremely significant and fetches that reality a step closer. The PM and Energy Minister have made it plain – Sellafield is the centre of Britain’s nuclear industry, houses the nations skills base and is perhaps the best placed area in the UK to benefit from this renaissance.
“It’s taken a huge effort to get us to this point, and I was delighted to welcome the PM as the only party leader to support the industry. Today isn’t just about nuclear, or jobs, or the economy, but the future of west Cumbria.”
On Tuesday, the Government will call for potential sites to be nominated and publish its criteria used to assess the suitability. It comes after EDF Energy completed its £12.5 billion takeover of nuclear operator British Energy earlier this month.
Energy minister Mike O’Brien added: “Of course we know Sellafield is a complex site and issues like grid connections need to be considered.
“But it is well placed to benefit from the UK’s nuclear renaissance; it is home to our nuclear skills, home to our nuclear expertise and home to many of our key facilities. Like all sites, the suitability of Sellafield will be assessed against the Government’s rigorous siting criteria.
“West Cumbria is already on the map as our Energy Coast. With their management of our nuclear legacy, with their interest in the Geological Disposal Facility, their interest in new nuclear and with their pioneering salt cavern gas storage project in Barrow we know they will continue to be in the future.”
And in another boost the University of Cumbria is set to cash in on £26 million of funding, the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) confirmed.
It is hoped it will encourage graduate retention and expand the skills base across the county with people moving into better jobs over the next eight years – so the region can emerge from the global financial crisis stronger than ever before.
The Prime Minister said: “I very much welcome this further investment for the development of the University of Cumbria; it's a vital project that will help the region attract new jobs in the future so Cumbria can emerge from the global downturn stronger than ever before. It directly creates 530 new jobs over eight years and will support the creation of 340 new businesses and help the University to increase the number of students by 28,000 by 2017, vital for further unlocking the talent of this region.”
First published at 11:23, Friday, 23 January 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk
As an outsider,i see that the area is beautiful,the property is cheap,& i am considering moving there.the only thing stopping me is the niggling doubt in the back of my mind regarding nuclear pollution.Surely everyone can see that tourism should be put above ruining the local environment for a fast profit that the locals will never see.Slower growing,maybe,But longer lasting,definitely.
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i think its good news for cumbria some local people will get jobs but not many peole like myself who have no qalifications will get them i once asked in the job centre for work in salafield was told i wouldnt get ajob there cause its hard to get in im a good and trust worthy worker who is gonna train people like myself who wants work at least we have one goodthing in cumbria and thats salafield
Posted by ellen on 1 April 2009 at 15:30