Nuclear storage rules too late for Trecwn (From Western Telegraph)

Nuclear storage rules too late for Trecwn

Tightening planning control on the establishment of nuclear storage sites may have come too late to prevent such use at Trecwn.

But Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Jackie Lawrence has congratulated the National Assembly on its decision to remove nuclear storage provision from the B8 use class and hence the threat of further nuclear storage in Wales.

She said: The Assembly is now responsible for planning issues in Wales. I am pleased they have closed this loophole which effectively removed the capacity of local planning authorities to have input into any decision to apply for storage of nuclear waste where class B8 already existed. This may not be of help in the case of Trecwn because B8 already exists on the site. Unfortunately, this ruling will not operate in retrospect.

What it will do, however, is make sure that in future anyone planning to use an existing site with B8 consent will have to seek permission from the local authority.

Planning consent, including an environmental impact assessment, will be required as well as consent from the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and the Environment Agency. It is a small but significant incremental step in giving maximum protection to our environment.