AM to visit Nuclear Power Stations

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 28th Jun 2005

Michael German, Lib Dem area AM, will visit two nuclear power stations close to South Wales later this week to see the work of the Nuclear Decommissioning Agency (NDA).

Berkeley and Oldbury nuclear power stations are situated close to southern Gwent (Oldbury being just 4 miles form Chepstow) and have generated nuclear power for some decades.

The power station at Berkley is presently being decommissioned with Oldbury still generating electricity but soon to enter decommissioning itself. Oldbury has been a subject of controversy: the station itself was designed to operate for twenty years. It will reach its 37th birthday in 2005.

"The debate over nuclear power and global warming is rapidly going up the agenda and it is an opportune time to see the work involved in decommissioning a nuclear power station, as well see at first hand an operating station", said Mr. German.

"There are grave concerns about the long term consequences of nuclear power generation and I will be asking questions directly to the industry itself. Oldbury power station has been the subject of fierce debate over safety and age. I want to see for myself the workings of the station. I'll have an opportunity to discuss these issues as well as others with the management team later this week."

Mr. German will be accompanied by Cllr. Jane Robbins, a Chepstow Town Councillor and Cllr. Phil Hobson, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Monmouthshire County Council.