Page first created: 16/01/02 Updated 13/9/02
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FALLOUT OVER HEYSHAM
13/9/02: Investigations by Greenpeace reveal that the Heysham 2 nuclear plant is facing the same technical problems that have shut both reactors at its sister plant in Torness, Scotland. Local campaigners are now asking for the plant to be closed down, asking if troubled energy giant British Energy is putting cash before safety.
Greenpeace has discovered that Heysham 2 has a history of technical problems with gas circulator impellers - exactly the same problem which has shut Torness. The organisation claims Heysham's problems have been developing over the past decade.
The closure of Heysham 2 would cause a further financial shockwave to British Energy which has already suspended trading of its shares and is currently seeking a massive cash injection from Government.
"'The Lancaster and District Green Party will be writing to the Government to urge that Heysham 2 should be shut down," says spokesperson Gisela Reynolds. "Instead of the Government bailing British Energy out of a financial crisis of its own making, it should be helping British Energy divert its funds and technical expertise into the development of wind farms off the Lancashire coast."
Heysham 2 bosses refute the Greenpeace claims and told the Lancaster Citizen safety will remain a priority.
British Energy have commented that Torness Reactor 1 was taken out of service on 12 August to investigate vibrations on one of the gas circulators; a programme of inspection work has commenced. As reported in previous BE monthly output announcements, Torness Reactor 2 was similarly shut down in mid May due to the failure of a gas circulator. "The remedial work is well advanced," says British Energy.
"The gas circulators at Heysham 2 are of a similar design to those at Torness. British Energy is undertaking a review to determine whether there are any implications of the Torness shutdown. Meantime Heysham 2 continues to operate safely."

Web Links:
• Heysham Power Station - Local Views
• British Energy
• Heysham 2 Information from British Energy
• The findings of NII's assessment of British Energy's periodic safety review (PDF file): Go
• Lancaster and District Green Party

NO MORE NUKES AT HEYSHAM?
19/4/02: The Lancaster Citizen has reported that a geological fault in the land next to Heysham 1 and 2 has ruled out the possibility of ever building a new nuclear power station at that site. Read More...

NEW NUKE FEARS GROW
1/3/03: Friends of the Earth has branded British Energy and BNFL's joint agreement to develop plans for a large number of new nuclear reactors as 'ludicrous' which flies in the face of both public opinion and the Government's recently published Energy Review.
At recent local Friends of the Earth meetings and via their market stalls, the public were given the opportunity to vote on whether they wanted a new nuclear power station at Heysham. 81 per cent said no, 15 per cent yes, and 4 per cent don't know. Read More...

SECRET NUCLEAR PLANS
1/2/02: Greenpeace has just published a leaked summary of Tony Blair's Energy Review, revealing how a Downing Street think tank is leaving the door open for a wave of new nuclear power stations across Britain. A third reactor at Heysham might be one of them. Read More...

DO WE WANT A HEYSHAM 3?
16/1/02: What do you think about British Energy’s proposals, supported by Tony Blair, to build 10 or 12 new nuclear power stations in Britain, including the likelihood of one at Heysham?
Two public meetings were arranged in early 2002 to give local people the chance to articulate their views on new nuclear reactors and hear the views of relevant Speakers (see list).
Local people also had the opportunity to have their say at a ‘poll’ conducted in Market Square in Lancaster and in Morecambe.
One of the meetings' organisers Gisela Renolds said: "The government has recently conducted an energy review of the UK’s future energy needs. In contradiction to Tony Blair’s support for British Energy’s proposals, the government's own review came out strongly against the nuclear option, arguing that wind energy could more than adequately meet the UK’s energy requirements. We decided that it was time local people should be consulted before British Energy and the Government turn the proposal to build further nuclear power stations into concrete plans."

If the plans went ahead the new reactors would most likely to be PWRs (pressurised waters reactors) which have a much higher radioactive content than the AGRs currently used at Heysham. PWRs also produce more highly radioactive waste which would be stored at the reactor site indefinitely.

Speakers at the meetings included:

David W. Howorth of Lancashire Emergency Planning Unit
Richard Bramhall who, with Chris Busby, researches the effects of low level radiation & the rise in incidents of breast cancer in estuary locations like Morecambe Bay. Both men currently sit on Government consultative committees.
Fred Barker, an independent nuclear consultant.
Dr. John Whitelegg, of the Lancaster and District Green Party.
Discussion at the meetings was to include the potential for a Heysham 3 station, the storage of waste materials on site and the health effects of low level radiation.
Organiser Patricia England, a Heysham North Councillor, said, ‘The meetings are a golden opportunity get answers to the questions we normally get very little chance of asking. Most local people say they are worried about evacuation procedures and we wouldn’t be human if the health of the environment and our families is not a concern when we live so close to hazardous industries.
"We have complained since 1988 to the nuclear managers about the poor standard of nuclear safety information available to people in the District. Other countries do much better and I will be seeking better conditions for local people who live near nuclear reactors."