As the remnants of the British nuclear programme of the 1950s start to be demolished a controversy is brewing over the possibility of a new generation of nuclear power stations on the redundant nuclear sites.

With great publicity this weekend the four distinctive cooling towers at Chapelcross nuclear power station in South West Scotland, which have dominated the skyline for half a century, have been demolished in a controlled explosion. The demolition of the four 300' stacks is part of the decommissioning process at the plant, near Annan in Dumfriesshire.

Described as a 'nuclear power station', Chapelcross has indeed supplied electricity to the National Grid for many years (albeit at an increasingly uncompetitive cost) however its construction and operation was directed less towards the delivery of clean efficient energy and more an essential of Britain's nuclear weapons programme in the Cold War period.

Chapelcross is one of a number of redundant nuclear sites across Scotland which have been mooted as possible locations for a generation of new-build nuclear power stations supported by the Blair (soon to be Brown) government at Westminster.

However, the plans, at least in Scotland, seem certain to promote opposition from the Scottish parliament. This is a potential crisis for Brown's Westminster government which the minority Scottish National Party government at Holyrood do have the capacity to turn to their advantage by mobilising the weight of opposition in Scotland and trouncing Labours nuclear plan.

The 'political bang' which accompanied any defeat for Labours nuclear aspirations in Scotland would almost certainly overshadow the physical spectacle today as Chapelcross was demolished!

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

20/05/07

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