North anti-nuclear group to oppose plans to build new nuclear power stations at the Moray Firth freeport

A NORTH anti-nuclear group is to strengthen its links with campaigners in the UK and Ireland to oppose plans to build new nuclear power stations on the green freeport in the Moray Firth.

Highlands Against Nuclear Power (HANP) is also to work with the Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) to highlight the risks involved in transporting nuclear waste from Dounreay to Sellafield by rail and by sea. In addition, the two groups are concerned about the rise in the number of particles found around the Dounreay foreshore.

The newly renamed HANP also has worries about the military and surveillance use of rockets launched from spaceports in Sutherland and Shetland.

Tor Justad, who was re-elected as chairman of HANP at its annual genral meeting on Tuesday night, said: "We will continue to work with the NFLA on issues such as the proposal to build small modular reactors (SMR's) at the new so-called Green Freeport on the Moray Firth, the rise in finds of radioactive particles on the shores around Dounreay, and on nuclear rail safety. We continue to highlight the risks involved in transporting nuclear waste from Dounreay to Sellafield by rail and by sea, which will include shipments of waste from the MOD Vulcan site at Dounreay which is also being decommissioned. HANP also has concerns about the military and surveillance use of rockets launched from spaceports on Unst in Shetland and at A'Mhoine in Sutherland."

He added: "More widely HANP will be joining campaigners across the UK in opposing the new nuclear levy which will result in all UK electricity customers paying for nuclear while electricity prices continue to rise."

Richard Outram, the secretary of the UK/Ireland Nuclear Free Local Authorities, who was the guest speaker at the AGM and recently gave a presentation to Highland councillors, was delighted to be at the event and pleased that north activists are keen to work with the Scottish NFLAs on joint and campaign work.

He spoke about the history and aims of the NFLA's and the challenges it faces from resurgent demands for new nuclear power stations when the UK has "not addressed the deadly legacy of the radioactive waste and contaminated sites."

Mr Outram said: "New nuclear is incredibly expensive, incredibly slow to deliver, and technologically uncertain. The only nuclear plant in the UK that is being built – Hinkley Point C in Somerset – is many years behind schedule and vastly over budget and the next generation of Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technologies has not even yet received regulatory approval."

"Scottish electricity consumers already face huge and rising energy bills, yet the UK government is proposing to build more nuclear plants when the cost of electricity generated by nuclear technology comes in at almost four times that of offshore wind and takes much longer to deliver. Furthermore, the British Government wants the people of Scotland to pay for it by applying a special nuclear levy to all future electricity bills."

He added: "We know that Scotland can be truly energy independent, generating power using a range of renewable technologies from the natural resources by which the nation is blessed."

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