WARRINGTON South MP David Mowat has welcomed the announcement by Energy Secretary Ed Davey of a new nuclear power station to be constructed at the existing Hinckley Point site.
The new station, the first to be built in the UK for 20 years, will be constructed and financed by energy giant 
EDF, but the announcement is likely to create new manufacturing and engineering jobs throughout the supply chain.
It is estimated that around 3,200 jobs in Warrington are directly connected to the nuclear supply chain and the announcement is likely to mean that number will rise over the next few years.
Mr Mowat (pictured) said: “The announcement, though 20 years later than it should have been, is welcome news for Warrington.
“We have a great many highly-skilled engineering and manufacturing companies in Warrington whose long term futures depend on Britain’s nuclear industry.
“These two new reactors, on their own, will produce seven per cent of the UK’s electricity – more than the combined maximum capacity of every onshore and offshore wind farm in the country.
“Replacing Britain’s aging coal-fired power stations with a new fleet of nuclear power stations is the best way to cut our carbon emissions whilst keeping energy bills lower for consumers.”
Nuclear plant promises jobs boost
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
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The recent announcement by EDF gave no guarantees that what little nuclear expertise we have remaining in this country will become involved in the Hinkley Point scheme, save that the “muck shifting” will and is being carried out by British companies. Dependent upon the level of their bids, some (and only some) British contractors might get a limited slice of the cake, but the bulk of the work on the reactors will be carried out using French nuclear expertise.
For some time now we have been paying the French nuclear industry very handsomely for generating electricity for our national grid. Sceptics might suggest that Hinkley Point is another step in that direction, no matter how it is being dressed up for public consumption.