Clash over decision to extend life of nuclear reactors

EDFG announced the extended life for the stations late last year

Labour and Green councillors have clashed over the extension of the generating lives of two ageing nuclear reactors.

Labour councillor Phillip Black, the former Lancaster City Council leader, proposed welcoming the news about extending Heysham 1's and Heysham 2's use to 2027 and 2030.

However the Greens called the motion "deeply irresponsible" and said the council should be questioning the decision not cheering it.

The council which sees no party with overall control voted to support Mr Black's motion.

Green councillor Gina Dowding said: "I recently asked a qualified architect, who has spent her working life on nuclear issues, about this. She said it would be deeply irresponsible for the council to 'welcome' the extensions."

She said it was the council's duty to query the extension of the reactors which were designed in the 1970s and built in the 80s, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reports.

The councillor added it should "look at anomalies, such as an unforeseen circumstances, which are increasingly happening" such as unplanned shut-downs.

However Labour councillor Matthew Black, who was the third generation of his family to work at the power station, said the reactors symbolised positive things, including local pride and offered good opportunities.

His colleague Colin Hartley added: "Yes, the power stations are not in their first flush of youth, but technology has changed and people would not work there if they thought it was dangerous. I live in the estate next to the power station."