Nuclear waste near nature reserve plan ongoing
AugeanResidents and politicians have hit out at plans to allow radioactive waste to be disposed of at a landfill site near a nature reserve and town.
The site, on Huntsman Drive in Port Clarence, Stockton, run by Augean, already disposes of a range of hazardous waste but requires permission to deal with nuclear material.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said the plans were wrong in 2019 when they were first put to the Environment Agency (EA) and were "still wrong now".
But Augean said risk assessments demonstrated the proposals "would not harm people in the local area or the environment".
The EA previously asked for more information about the plan in September 2020 and it has now opened a public consultation, which will close on 4 August.
Lord Houchen said: "We absolutely want new nuclear power and we are working hard to deliver this - but I will not allow Teesside to be seen as a dumping ground for the country's waste.
"I will continue to stand firmly against any plan, and I urge everyone to make their voices heard loud and clear in this consultation."
AugeanAn Augean spokesperson said there had been an ongoing exchange of information with the EA since submitting the application in 2019, including a "wide range of risk assessments" which "demonstrate the proposals would not harm people in the local area or the environment in the short or long term".
"The determination process involves complex and rigorous scrutiny of the application, requiring a significant amount of technical input from Augean and EA," the spokesperson added.
They said Augean was committed to working with the local community to help them gain a better understanding and feel more confident about the safety of the proposed project.
An open day will be held at the site on 15 July from 15:00 to 19:00 BST.
'Assessment is ongoing'
Stockton North MP Chris McDonald said he had been contacted by a number of concerned residents about the renewed proposal.
He said: "People across Stockton, Billingham and Norton have made it clear in the past that our area should not be used to dump waste that others do not want.
"While the EA is reviewing a revised safety case, it is vital that local communities are fully heard."
Councillor Sue Little from Seaton Carew said that she thought the idea was "very worrying" and feared local flooding could pose a contamination risk.
The EA said it welcomed new comments on the revised plan.
Gary Wallace, area environment manager, said: "It's important the community has the opportunity to review the revised environmental safety case, which has changed significantly since the original public consultation.
"Our technical assessment is ongoing and once we have reviewed the documents and information from the consultation we will make a draft decision on the application."