‘North cannot become backwater nuclear dumping ground’ – Ritchie | Latest Newry News, Newry Sport and Newry Business for Newry City

‘North cannot become backwater nuclear dumping ground’ – Ritchie

SDLP South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has raised concerns about what she described as ‘early moves to identify the North as a spot for dumping Britain’s Nuclear Waste’.

ritchie2Radioactive Waste Managament Ltd have launched a consultation on proposals for the draft National Geological Screening Guidance which will be used as the basis for locating a geological disposal facility for underground storage of nuclear waste.

Speaking to Newry Times, she said, “I was absolutely appalled to learn that Northern Ireland is being included in consideration for locating a geological disposal facility which holds significant amounts of highly radioactive waste underground.

“Such a move would be a disaster for our environment and the clean energy market that we should be investing in. The North does not want nuclear waste.

“It doesn’t matter if it comes from indiscriminate discharges from the Sellafield Plant, from underground disposal facilities or from new nuclear sites. We will not become a backwater dumping ground for Britain’s nuclear waste.

“Northern Ireland has some of the best opportunities for renewable energy technologies on these islands. Geothermal hotspots and expertise in off shore wind energy make us an ideal area for growth of the renewables sector.

Ritchie added, “That should be our focus in the time ahead, not allowing our land to be used to meet the needs of nuclear power.”

Short URL: https://newrytimes.com/?p=53024

Posted by on Oct 5 2015. Filed under Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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