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Nuclear Research Project Scrapped

Posted on: Friday, 13 January 2006, 09:00 CST

By Stephen Rouse

A controversial nuclear energy research project was withdrawn by North economic development chiefs last night after widespread condemnation.

Last night, a North MP claimed regional development agency One NorthEast had shown "appalling misjudgment" over the proposed pounds 50,000 project.

ONE was accused of backing a new nuclear power station for the region when it put out a contract tender for the project asking applicants to create a business case for "nuclear new build in the North-East of England".

Critics also claimed the agency was jumping the gun ahead of the Government's energy review, which is looking at possible new nuclear stations and is due out in mid-summer.

On Monday, ONE bosses took the tender offer off the agency website for a re-write, saying the project was only intended to establish the region's capacity to bid for new nuclear building work anywhere in the world.

But last night they revealed they were dropping the project altogether.

Chief Executive Alan Clarke said: "We recognise that the wording of the original tender was ambiguous and its publication was premature before the Government's energy review findings."

Last night, critics welcomed the climb-down but said questions remained over ONE's links with the nuclear industry.

Newcastle Central MP Jim Cousins said: "I think this decision was inevitable and right. I shall obviously be inquiring of ONE how this appalling misjudgment came to be made in the first place.

"This affair has also revealed that ONE decided to join the Nuclear Industry Association and I'm very concerned about that as it essentially means they have joined the nuclear energy lobby."

Jean McSorley, senior adviser for Greenpeace's nuclear campaign said: "Given what some senior ONE people have said already, there is a concern there is a bias and whatever they say to the energy review will be tilted in favour of nuclear power."

A spokeswoman for ONE admitted that the problems with the tender should have been foreseen, but denied the affair had been an embarrassment, saying the intention had been to best place North- East business to benefit from opportunities in the nuclear industry.

The agency also defended its links to the Nuclear Industry Association as providing networking opportunities and early alerts for contracts.

CBI North-East regional director Sarah Green said last night: "Business welcomes the fact that this tender has started a real debate about energy production in the region. It is important that the debate does not stop now that the tender has been withdrawn but that we continue the discussion with all interested stakeholders."

Source: The Journal - Newcastle-upon-Tyne

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