Hinkley Point C risks raised

THE importance of submissions from Louth to the public consultation on the UK’s Hinkley Point C, nuclear power station which is currently under construction, was highlighted by Green Party councillor Mark Dearey at the monthly meeting of Louth County Council.

Noting that the transboundary public consultation process closes on April 17th, he explained that the public consultation had been opened to involve Ireland following legal action.

The development of the new nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point C in Somerset was one of seven nuclear power plants proposed for Britain’s west coast.

While he accepted that it was unlikely that there would be an accident at the plant, he noted that the ESRI had in 2016, prepared a report into the financial impact that an accident at a power plant on the British west coast have for Ireland.

They had prepared a number of scenarios, from a low risk accident with no radioactive emissions which would cost €4billion, to €161billion in the worst case scenario.

Members of the public may make a written submission or observations in relation to the potential transboundary environmental effects of the project, by sending them to his or her local planning authority to be received by close of business on Tuesday April 17 at the latest.

A public meeting takes place in An Táin Theatre, Dundalk on Monday April 9 at 7pm as part of the public consultation process.