Published at 11:08, Thursday, 07 June 2012

SIR – Out at sea or underground? These are the only two viable options for our area.

POWER: New pylons might be part of the West Cumbria skyline if a new nuclear build takes place at Sellafield.

Jamie Reed keeps spitting his dummy out, after negative feed back of a nuclear power station and the infrastructure that goes with it.

Yes, it will bring jobs to the area, mainly to people who will be here via various contractors brought in to do the build. But indirectly this will provide jobs and income, from accommodation providers down the line to the people who clean and cook for them, of which I am one, and grateful for the work. But there is the rest of Cumbria to think about. What is it supposed to do with a nuclear power station and unsightly power pylons?

The Lake District is Cumbria. The Lake District National Park has international recognition as do other well known National Parks around the world such as Yellowstone and Uluru.

Jamie Reed seems to be ignoring the fact that the Lake District is a brand name and tourism provides just as many jobs as Sellafield, directly and indirectly across our county.

The two (nuclear and tourism) can only work together in this area if it sensitively done, to lessen the visual impact on the area.

If this isn’t possible, then as someone suggested in The Whitehaven News recently, maybe all power stations and wind farms should be on the edge of our cities. After all, they are without a doubt high energy users, not the countryside!

Also the cities already have the infrastructure and power connections there on their doorstep, without miles of power lines to get it there!

So an extra cost maybe, but to put the power lines out of sight shouldn’t be considered a negative to the planning developers, but a required necessity, to ensure Cumbria as a whole benefits.

Nimby? Yes, and pleased to be one. I don’t live in a town or city as both hold no interest for me; people, noise, cars, traffic and hustle and bustle 24/7 – no thanks!

The countryside is my place; wide open spaces, visual beauty, wildlife and peace and quiet. Keep it like this for others to enjoy.

S CLARKE

Drigg, Holmrook

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk