The consultation on the proposal of Kirksanton, near Millom, as a new site for a nuclear power station closed today (22 February). Thank you to all of our members who responded to our letter or email asking you to register your objection with the Department of Energy and Climate Change and to ask for support from your MP.

Download Cumbria Wildilfe Trust's response to the DECC consultation on the Energy National Policy Statements.

Did you know? 

The government has selected the picturesque village of Kirksanton, near Millom to host a new nuclear power station.

The government's unelected Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) has been given the power to fast-track major projects such as this, bypassing the usual planning procedures. Additionally another two nuclear power station sites have been allocated further up Cumbria's coast.

Why is Kirksanton special?

Kirksanton lies at the mouth of the Duddon Estuary in the south west of the county.  This part of Cumbria is physically isolated from much of the rest of the county by topography including mountains, bays and estuaries.  Apart from the town of Millom, there is not a great deal of industry or large-scale settlement along this part of the Cumbrian coast.  This isolation and low levels of development are precisely the reason why the area around Kirksanton is of such great significance for its natural environment, including habitats, species and landscapes of international value.

The building of a nuclear power station poses a threat to Kirksanton's wildlife because

• the site lies directly adjacent to the Lake District National Park boundary
• the development and its infrastructure will have a very damaging effect on the Morecambe Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC), The Duddon Estuary Specially Protected Area (SPA), Ramsar and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
• there are a number of European Protected Species which use the site: four species of bat are found in the area as are otters and it is within the most important site for natterjack toads in Britain - it hosts up to 24% of the UK's population of this species and over 50% of the Cumbrian population
• the site is also home to other protected species such as slow worms and common lizards, and is designated locally as a site of invertebrate interest
• the development will affect BAP Habitats and Species, and destroy the Kirksanton Moss County Wildlife Site.

The reason the area is protected under so many conservation land designations is to stop this type of destructive development. Not only will the nuclear power station site be destroyed but roads, sea defences, marine facilities and bridges will have to be built to provide access to the site, destroying wildlife all around. Water will be sucked out of the sea at the rate of flow of the River Thames to cool the power station, killing sealife and damaging the bottom of the food chain in the process.

Download Cumbria Wildlife Trust's Response to ECC Select Committee Consultation on the proposals for National Policy Statement (NPSs) on Energy

Please help us to stop this destruction by joining our Save Kirksanton's Wildlife Facebook Group.

To find out more about Kirksanton visit http://www.savekirksanton.org.uk/

The green area on this map shows the areas that are either listed under a protective wildlife conservation designation such as SSSI, SAC, SPA and Ramsar or are a UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Habitat or County Wildife Site near to the proposed nuclear power station, outlined in black, near Kirksanton.

Click here for a more detailed map