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Alan Smith has called on Sellafield to help local businesses

Andrew Gilbert

Andrew Gilbert

Posted on 31 August 2018

Published 31 August 2018

Council Leader Alan Smith has called on Sellafield to help local businesses cope with future challanges associated with the changes at the Sellafield nuclear plant:

I’m pleased to see that recent my comments about the impact of Sellafield on West Cumbria has sparked so much debate. 

I also welcome the efforts Sellafield has undoubtedly made in terms of social and economic investment into Allerdale. However, the real issue is the future of the West Cumbrian economy - an economy so dominated by nuclear that is has limited ability to diversify. But nuclear is an industry that is subject to major change. The Sellafield commissioned Oxford Economics report highlights that 3,000 roles will go over the next four to five years contributing to already “challenging employment outlook for Cumbria”. 60% of Sellafield’s current scope will be gone by 2040.

This is the point I was seeking to make and Sellafield have not addressed in their responses so far. This is not a fight about funding projects, this is a fight for our economic future and that of our young people. This is about the NDA and Sellafield using their collective size, budgets, procurement process and buying power to make a sustainable, demonstrable difference to our economy. Sellafield will not be here forever and nuclear new build seems as far away as ever. We must prepare for the loss of these jobs now.  

There is more supply chain spend in Wolverhampton, Windsor and Warrington than there is in Allerdale. I ask NDA and Sellafield the question: how can this be right? I do not currently believe that the billions of pounds spent by Sellafield are helping us to underpin a strong economy that can, crucially, still exist without Sellafield. 

Diversification can only happen when we have a strong, dynamic SME sector in West Cumbria. We need an SME sector that can access nuclear, grow from nuclear but not be reliant on nuclear. Sellafield’s buying power can support local businesses and facilitate diversification.  And when I say local, I don’t mean multi-national companies that have an office in West Cumbria. I mean businesses that will still be here when Sellafield isn’t.

I would welcome an open and honest debate with NDA, Sellafield, and the wider nuclear industry, on the future of West Cumbria. Let’s get beyond discussions about any social and economic investments of the past, and move into whether the nuclear industry is doing all it can to help local SME’s and supply chain companies with the transition away from the nuclear industry. 

So in that regard I look forward to receiving my invitation to Sellafield’s Development Advisory Board and participating in a proper debate on developing the necessary interventions that will shape West Cumbria’s economy over the next 25 years.