Today(Sunday 20 May) should mark the beginning of the end for nuclear powerin Scotland said Friends of the Earth Scotland. The environmentalgroup's comments follow the demolition today of the landmark coolingtowers at Chapelcross nuclear power station in Dumfries and Galloway.[1]

Thegroup also said that a survey by it of MSPs elected to Holyrood revealsa clear majority opposed to more reactors in Scotland. The survey foundthat MSPs who say they are against nuclear power outnumber those whosaid they are in favour by three to one. [2]

This week the UK government is expected to signal its support for the building of a new generation on nuclear power stations.

Friends of the Earth Scotland's Chief Executive, Duncan McLaren, said:

"Thereactors may have been shut and the towers demolished, but like everyother nuclear power station Chapelcross leaves behind a dangerouslegacy of highly radioactive waste.

"Webelieve that today should mark the beginning of the end for nuclearpower in Scotland. The closure and clean-up of Chapelcross shouldintensify our drive for increased energy efficiency and cleanrenewables, not a return to polluting and expensive nuclear.

"Thisweek's energy white paper looks like putting Westminster on a collisioncourse with the Scottish Parliament. Should Gordon Brown attempt toimplement Blair's radioactive legacy - by imposing nuclear powerstations on Scotland - he can now be sure it will be met with stiffopposition.

"Theresults of our survey couldn't be clearer - new nuclear power stationsare not welcome in Scotland. Like the public, the majority of MSPsrealise that nuclear power is nothing other than a white elephant.

"Any attempt to foist new nuclear power on Scotland would be an expensive,
ineffective and risky distraction from sensible measures to addressclimate change. Continued investment in energy efficiency and cleanrenewables are the only sure fire ways to reduce Scotland's climatechange emissions." [3]

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] Nuclear cooling towers demolished
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/6673817.stm

http://www.britishnucleargroup.com/content.php?pageID=264

[2] SURVEY: WHERE THE NEW MSPS STAND ON NUCLEAR POWER

Opposed to building new nuclear power stations in Scotland: 72 (56%)
Support building new nuclear power stations in Scotland: 24 (19%)
Undecided: 3 (2%)
No response: 30 (23%)
Total: 129 (100%)

See: http://www.foe-scotland.org.uk/nation/nuclear_views.php

See also - Holyrood set to clash with Brown on nuclear plans:

http://www.sundayherald.com/news/heraldnews/display.var.1411802.0.holyrood_s
et_to_clash_with_brown_on_nuclear_plans.php

[3] Nuclear power is not needed to tackle climate change:

1.The 'The Power of Scotland' - a joint report by RSPB Scotland, WWFScotland and FoE Scotland - sets out how Scotland could tackle climatechange without the need for nuclear power.

Read the report: http://foe-scotland.org.uk/nation/Power_of_Scotland.pdf

2.The government's own advisers, the Sustainable Development Commission,say that nuclear nuclear power is not the answer to tackling climatechange or security of supply.

Read their report: http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/pages/scot_nuclear.html