Local talks over Trawsfynydd nuclear station site

Local politicians have discussed the possibility of a new nuclear power station at Trawsfynydd in Gwynedd.

BBC Wales has learned that Gwynedd council's leader Dyfed Edwards and local AM Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas were involved in talks.

But Lord Elis Thomas said there was no plan for a new nuclear site and he saw it as a potential wind power area.

The old power station stopped producing electricity in 1991 and is being decommissioned.

Gwynedd council said there had been no talks with the nuclear industry in relation to the site.

This follows comments made by Meredydd Williams, a member of the Trawsfynydd stakeholders sub-committee, who told BBC Wales that he and five other representatives from local community councils met Mr Edwards and Lord Elis Thomas a few months ago.

A new nuclear power station at Trawsfynydd known as Traws B was discussed.

Trawsfynydd started generating electricity in 1965 stopped producing in 1991

He said an informal agreement was reached for Mr Edwards to write to companies working on new nuclear plants to see if they were interested in building in Trawsfynydd.

Lord Elis Thomas denied that he was in favour of a new nuclear plant at Trawsfynydd.

"What I did say at a meeting is that I would, of course, look again at the policies of the United Kingdom government in this matter, and the Department for Energy and Climate Change have no proposals.

"This strategy is very clear. There are no proposals for further development at Trawsfynydd."

He added that Trawsfynydd should continue to be an energy site and said it had wind power potential.

He said he had meetings with the leader of Gwynedd council on a regular basis, and also with councillors in the area.

"All the options have, at times, been raised, but the question of further nuclear investment is entirely a matter for the United Kingdom government," Lord Elis Thomas said.

Next month community councils in Dwyfor and Meirionnydd will receive a letter from another member of the Trawsfynydd stakeholders committee, John Llewellyn Richards.

He will ask them to discuss their views on building a new nuclear power station at Trawsfynydd.

Maentwrog and Gellilydan Community Council has already discussed the issue and has voted against the plans.

A Gwynedd council spokesperson said its local employment plan saw developing job opportunities on the site as a priority, and Mr Edwards had been involved in discussions with Business Minister Edwina Hart to maximise its potential.

But there had been no discussions between the council and any companies from the nuclear industry over the site, added the council.

Trawsfynydd began generating electricity in January 1965 as Britain's fourth nuclear power station.

Earlier this year, Wylfa on Anglesey was confirmed among eight sites around the UK - all adjacent to existing nuclear locations - as suitable for a new power station.