15 February 2007
Nuclear Free Local Authorities Welcome Today's High Court Ruling Against
the Government's Nuclear Consultation
Mr Justice Sullivan, sitting in the Royal Courts of Justice, London, today
delivered a judgement against Government saying it had acted unfairly in
not provided full information to undertake last year's consultation on
the case for new nuclear build. Government failed to present full and clear
proposals on key issues surrounding a new generation of nuclear power stations
such as dealing with radioactive waste and financial costs. The Judge described
the consultation as ‘seriously flawed’.
Nuclear Free Local Authorities played a critical role in this outcome in
first writing to the Minister of Energy before the Energy Review commenced
stating the minimum requirements that the Energy Review would have to exhibit
if it was to fulfil the Government's promise of the "fullest consultation".
NFLAs stated that this would inevitably require two rounds of consultation.
NFLAs were able to obtain Greenpeace's agreement to be co-signatories to
the letter. It was specifically the failure of the DTI to address the concerns
raised at that stage that paved the way to today’s decision. Welcoming
the ruling, Jamie Woolley, lawyer to the Nuclear Free Local Authorities,
said:
"This is a very important victory for local authorities in their
overall desire to ensure that consultations by Govenment are meaningful,
properly conducted and instituted with an open mind. In this instance,
Government failed to honour its promise of the fullest consultation about
nuclear energy and jumped to conclusions they were not entitled to. It
is remarkable that for such a controversial and potentially hazardous technology,
the DTI were prepared to cut corners in the way they have. Everything about
the speed with which they are trying to drive the nuclear option forward
suggests that this will not be the only fence they fall at. NFLAs intend
to play a comprehensive role in ensuring that local authorites and their
citizens are properly consulted and involved in all aspects of decision-making
relating to any proposed nuclear new build"
Government will now have to rectify the defects in its consultation last
year. Alistair Darling, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, has
already pledged to undertake further consultation but has also pledged
to press on with publication of an Energy White Paper setting out the support
Government will give to new nuclear build.
Jamie Woolley commented: "Insincerity was the hallmark of last year’s
consultation and it will be the hallmark of any further consultation for
so long as the Government says that its mind is made up on the need for
new nuclear stations."