30 November 2007 - Plans for a new nuclear facility at Dungeness have outraged the Green Euro-MP for the South East, who has slammed the Government for its “love affair with nuclear power”.

Caroline Lucas MEP is urging the Government to show political leadership on the environment after it was revealed that the site at Dungeness was earmarked by British Energy as a preferred location for a new facility - and could be developed as part of a major expansion of the UK’s nuclear power capabilities.

Dr Lucas, who is a staunch campaigner against the use of nuclear energy, said: “Gordon Brown has put out a clear signal that he is committed to a “new generation” of nuclear power and Kent will suffer the direct consequences of this if Dungeness is chosen as a site for development.

“New nuclear power stations simply cannot be the answer to the UK’s energy problem. It’s not just the astronomical costs of cleaning up the deadly radioactive waste (already £70bn and rising), the risks from accidents or terrorist attack, or that switching to nuclear power couldn’t possibly deliver sufficient CO2 cuts in time to meet our international commitments.

“Neither is it just the terrible signal we would send to the rest of the world that you can’t tackle climate change without nuclear power, just at a time when the UN Security Council is bristling over Iran’s insistence on maintaining its independent nuclear energy programme.

“No: the reality is that nuclear power is not just unsafe and unsustainable, it’s entirely unnecessary. A combination of renewables, energy efficiency and demand reduction will deliver emissions cuts and energy security much more safely and effectively.

“A UN Human Development report published this week singled out the UK for its failure to adopt ambitious emissions reduction targets and its lack of progress in developing renewable energy. At this crucial stage in the battle to protect the world’s people from the effects of climate change, it is completely unacceptable that our Government is committing the UK to a grim future of nuclear power and squandering any real opportunity to take a lead in the fledgling renewables industry.”

ENDS