To what extent does the proposed Moorside nuclear power plant engage and involve the local communities?

Abstract

The principal aim of this study is to discover whether community involvement and engagement is at the forefront of the plans for the proposed Moorside nuclear power plant in West Cumbria. Nuclear power is at the forefront of the UK energy mix, as the government is proposing it as a low carbon option to help mitigate climate change and increase energy security. However there can be issues with nuclear energy such as safety, waste and cost concerns which may influence the public’s perception. Moorside is a joint project between NuGen, Toshiba and Energie for a new nuclear power plant adjacent to the Sellafield site, with three Westinghouse AP100 reactors to provide approximately 7% of the UK’s energy. West Cumbria is a nuclear area with Sellafield which is a fuel reprocessing site and previously was home to nuclear power station Calder Hall. Sellafield employs over 10,000 people and the area is dependent on the nuclear industry. The main research methods used were online and direct questionnaire’s and interviews with the Environment Agency, NuGen and Radiation Free Lakeland. The study found that there are concerns over the projects effect on already poor transport infrastructure and overall can conclude that the success of NuGen’s 2015 consultation is debatable, as half of the questionnaire respondents knew ‘nothing’ to’ a fair amount’ on the project. The significance of the study is that it shows that despite NuGens efforts there is still more that needs to be done to engage the local people.