PANA - the Pembrokeshire Anti Nuclear Association - has welcomed the statement that the Irish half of the Omega Pacific partnership is no longer supporting the nuclear waste option at the former Royal Naval Armament Depot at Trecwn

However, this is only a restatement of a previously expressed opinion, and is not progress in itself towards a long term sustainable use of the site, said PANA chairman Andrew Clemence. We feel that these words need to be backed by actions and have asked Mr George Kirwin, of Omega Pacific, to prove that there is substance to his voiced intentions. PANA has called for Omega Pacific to:

q Add a nuclear exclusion clause to the existing planning consents on the site, which could be carried out with the county councils backing. Such a clause would then apply if the site was sold on to a third party.

q Provide permanent employment on the site in a sustainable use. If this occurred the site would be tied up and not available for nuclear storage. PANA would support the company wholeheartedly if they could attempt to improve employment at Trecwn

q PANA has been concerned that both Omega Pacific and Pembrokeshire County Council have been unwilling to openly discuss options for the site. We are obviously aware that there needs to be business confidentiality but this has been taken to unnecessary extremes, said Mr Clemence.

He added: As a group we have made a submission to the Government with our response to the Green Paper on the Storage of Nuclear Waste. We are pressing for a policy that stops the creation of any new nuclear sites in the UK, and that storage is carried out at the site of production so that there is minimal risk to the population from transportation of waste, which is even more important with an increased terrorism threat.

Michael Meacher, the Environment Secretary, has expressed his view that the whole nuclear debate needs to be transparent, with maximum involvement of the public and communities so that consensus can be sought. We feel that Pembrokeshire County Council and Omega Pacific need to embrace this philosophy.