MP fears nuclear plant fish threat (From Gazette)

MP fears nuclear plant fish threat

1:00am Tuesday 12th May 2009 in

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AN MP has backed fishermen over their concerns a new nuclear power station could kill off huge numbers of Colchester’s world-famous oysters.

Bernard Jenkin, MP for North Essex, is to press Government ministers on the effects a new power station at Bradwell would have on the marine ecology of the Blackwater estuary.

And if studies are not available, he will press them to commission some research, possibly enlisting academics from Essex University.

Bradwell is the site of an old plant which was closed in 2002 and is in the process of decommissioning.

The Government last month earmarked the site as one of 11 potential locations for a new nuclear power station.

Mr Jenkin said fishermen had visited him to voice their concerns, and although he was in favour of nuclear power stations in general, he shared their concerns about the potential effect on wildlife.

He said: “I was very concerned by what they told me.

“They explained how, since the closure of the power station, there has been a complete renaissance of the marine ecology in the entire estuary, because the water is cleaner and free of chlorine.

“This to me is a far more serious threat than any radiation effect.

“I will want to be satisfied that measures are taken before a power station is built there.

“If I can encourage the Government to commission some research, I think it would be very beneficial.

“I am a fan of nuclear power but the whole issue of environmental protection is extremely important and there may have to be changes to the outflow in order to ameliorate the effects.”

Fishermen fear if a new, more powerful station opened, millions of cubic litres of water from the sea would be used every day to cool it. It would then be returned to the estuary at a higher temperature and possibly chlorinated.