Greens exit flawed nuclear consultation

Green coalition says process "flawed"

A coalition of green groups who led calls for a public consultation into nuclear energy look set to walk out on the consultations into the future of nuclear energy in the UK, describing the process as "seriously flawed".

The government was forced to enter a consultation process after a campaign led by Friends of the Earth (FoE) and Greenpeace and a High Court ruling that declared previous government efforts at public engagement into the question as "manifestly inadequate and unfair".

While the government has said it would be "disappointed" if the green groups left the process a spokesman for the groups has accused the government of abandoning all pretence at impartiality and of making up its mind up on the issue prior to the eight public meetings to be held tomorrow; while Gordon Brown stated during prime ministers questions that a decision on nuclear energy had already been taken.

Speaking for the groups Ben Ayliffe told the Guardian "We have given the government every chance to make the information they give to the public impartial, but they have chosen to ignore it. It has not wanted an open debate. We would rather not go to court, but it is an option that we are considering."

While Tony Juniper (FoE director) told the Register: "This is not a genuine consultation about nuclear power. It is deeply flawed and it is clear that the Government has essentially made up its mind. We are perfectly happy to debate the issue of nuclear power, but we are not prepared to take part in this latest Government farce."

Tony Juniper went on to say that "Nuclear power is not a solution to climate change. A new programme would only generate around four per cent of the UK's energy consumption. It is expensive and dangerous, and will leave a highly toxic legacy for many generations to come. There are lots of non-nuclear alternatives ... the Government should invest in these solutions."


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