A coalition of civil society groups is warning of the dangers of cutting safety regulations as the government pushes to \u201crip up the rules\u201d to accelerate the construction of new nuclear power stations.<\/p>\n
The 25 groups from communities neighbouring nuclear sites have submitted a joint response to a consultation by the nuclear regulatory taskforce, saying its proposals lack \u201cboth credibility and rigour\u201d.<\/p>\n
They argue that the plans to relax regulations<\/a> only serve to undermine confidence in regulators and the UK\u2019s nuclear regulatory regime.<\/p>\n The government is pushing to speed up approvals for new plants and says it needs to \u201crip up rules\u201d<\/a> to \u201cfire up\u201d nuclear power.<\/p>\n But the groups, in their submission to the taskforce, which published its interim report in August, <\/a>argue that the government has failed to present any evidence to substantiate assertions about the need to reform nuclear safety regulation.<\/p>\n In reality, they say, the problems facing the UK\u2019s nuclear programmes are the result of a multitude of factors, including poor planning, investment difficulties, and slow decision-making by industry and central government.<\/p>\n David Cullen, a co-chair of the coalition, said: \u201cThe UK\u2019s nuclear watchdog system has worked well for 60 years to ensure the relative safety of a high-hazard industrial sector. In our view, the system is not broken and does not need fixing, and it would be madness to rip up tried and tested nuclear safety rules that have kept the public safe for a lifetime.<\/p>\n \u201cMeasures proposed by the taskforce \u2026 would weaken protection for the public and undermine the independence of watchdogs, forcing them to follow instructions from ministers to permit construction of new power stations whether or not they pose risks to local communities and much-loved countryside.\u201d<\/p>\n