MP: N-sub scrap work should be given 'informed consideration'

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Wednesday, October 21, 2009
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This is Cornwall

PLYMOUTH MP Linda Gilroy says the city should give "serious and informed consideration" to plans to dismantle nuclear submarines at Devonport Naval Base.

The Ministry of Defence announced it will host a meeting in Plymouth on Friday over the controversial Submarine Dismantling Project, which could see 27 submarines stored and cut up in Devonport over the next 60 years.

The announcement prompted vigorous opposition to the plan from council leader Vivien Pengelly and Conservative MP Gary Streeter, as reported in The Herald yesterday.

Mrs Gilroy called for "an open, transparent and informed consultation," and said there was a need to understand more about the work involved.

She said: "Certainly if it is about securing more work for the highly skilled, high quality work force – the kind of which the Dockyard excels at – this could be welcome."

But Mrs Gilroy said she wanted to know about any additional risks the project might bring to the city, and how it might fit in with Plymouth's ambitions for growth in other sectors.

Mrs Gilroy added: "One thing I do know is that the surest way of driving work away from the dockyard is to make the Ministry of Defence and Babcock feel that Plymouth is not prepared to give serious and informed consideration to something related to one of the key sectors of its economy."

The MoD says no decision has yet been made on where the project would take place, or where the radioactive waste would be stored before it is moved to a national storage centre in about 2040.

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) is planning to march through the city next week in opposition to the plans.

Tony Staunton, Secretary of Plymouth's Trades Union Council, said: "The private owners, Babcock Marine, hope to make billions in profits from contaminating our city for the next hundred years. It is an outrage."

The demonstration, on Saturday, October 31, will start at Plymouth Guildhall at midday, and protesters will march to Devonport Park.

They will move on to the Camel's Head gate of the dockyard for a rally at 3pm.

For further details about joining the law abiding march contact Shirley Law of CND on 01752 318 625.

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  • Profile image for This is Cornwall

    by Baz, Plymouth

    Friday, October 23 2009, 7:08PM

    “Good to see that our elected representatives are standing up for the people that voted them into office yet again, not. When they are finally voted out or resign and head off to their comfy retirement homes away from Plymouth, we will have to live with their decision not to stand up to their party leadership. It would only take one accident to turn Plymouth and the surrounding area into a nuclear wasteland for many years to come. Whose idea is it to dismantle nuclear subs in a major and densely populated city. This work may create 200 jobs but the fear of having a nuclear waste dump in the city will force far more jobs away from the west country than it creates. I except that this work has to be done but why in a densely populated area. I can guarantee that Gordon Brown will not allow this work to be carried out in his backyard at Rosyth so why should we have to have it here. So Linda and Alison do what you were elected for and represent the voters of Plymouth and finally do what your are paid for because this may be your last chance.”

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    by Mu, Plymouth

    Thursday, October 22 2009, 7:48PM

    “Here we go again, Linda voting Plymouth in for a nuclear dump at the cost to our health for the sake of 200 jobs. This woman is dangerous and the sooner she is out of a job the better. She has no credibility following her voting for the John Lewis List, her MP expenses claims, her setting up of a company with Tudor Evans at the expense of the taxpayer, what was it called, 'Publicity Matters'!.”

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    by Resident, Ham

    Thursday, October 22 2009, 2:49PM

    “I think its about time that Stupid Staunton and the rest of the moaners actually take the time to educate themselves over the work involved and stop the uneducated scaremongering.”

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    by Leeds Exile, Plymouth

    Thursday, October 22 2009, 12:56PM

    “Nuclear waste exists and needs dealing with, old subs need dismantling. Someone has to do the work somewhere, I say why not here. We already have facilities that fit the bill and a workforce with the skillsets and experience. The impact on the local area and populace would be no more apparent than is currently the case. Indeed, as someone posted only yesterday, there is more risks albeit minimal in the current refuelling processes than there will be in the dismantling work. I quoted other peoples sound bites because thats all they are, knee jerk responses to the word Nuclear. The Nuclear Industry is one of the safest most regulated there is and yet still people treat it like some sort of boogeyman. How many are aware of the danger presented by Radon in the SW, or are happy to sit out in the sun all day soaking up all that radiation?
    Yes, there may well be better commercial alternatives and if there are so be it, but right now I don't see Investors exactly flooding into the SW, there's more to life than the MOD(N) but there's more to life than tourism too.”

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    by Philosopher Mikey, in the Ivory Tower

    Thursday, October 22 2009, 11:21AM

    “Leeds Exile of Plymouth¿ It doesn¿t take much intellectual stimulus to comprehend the fact that NO radioactive waste is better than LOTS of radioactive waste. This is doubly the case for a city whose future is more likely to be tourism and commercial interests than military in the near and long term future. The MOD has all but abandoned Plymouth as a thriving naval base and it would be against the interests of the city to allow them to have a disproportionate say in the future development of the area just because of security restrictions due to having radio active decommissioned submarines stored and dismantled here. The radioactive waste would be here until at least 2040 and only an idiot (hmm?) would trust the government to have an alternative storage facility in place by then. The disadvantages will far outweigh any benefits that would be gained. The workforce involved would be minimal and only be an obstruction to other more worthwhile and more profitable opportunities to redevelop the area. So yes, Leeds Exile¿ Let¿s have some intellectual debate between those politicians and city representatives involved in determining the future of Plymouth. Let¿s also have openness regarding the facts and figures for the people of Plymouth to have the chance to accept or reject this proposal based on the merits or disadvantages. As or me, I believe there must be many other commercial enterprises that would be far more beneficial for the city¿s long term future than as a nuclear scrap-yard for governments that have neglected the South West for years and years and will probably continue to do so. Why not give some informed opinions yourself Leeds Exile instead of just quoting other peoples sound bites and snorting! Don¿t you have anything constructive or intellectual to say?”

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