The future of nuclear power in the United Kingdom is finely balanced. The relevant factors are discussed in the context of geographic arguments related to siting and safety. Aspects of the ‘British approach’ to nuclear power regulation, licensing, siting, and emergency planning are briefly described. Last, the planning intentions of the state power-utilities are reviewed and the impact of a new party-political dimension assessed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BlackD, 1984Investigation of the possible increased incidence of cancer in West Cumbria report of the Independent Advisory Group, Sir Douglas Black (chairman), Department of Health and Social Security (HMSO, London)
2.
BobowM, 1986, “The implications of the new data on the releases from Sellafield in the 1950s for the conclusions of the Report on the investigation of the possible increased incidence of cancer in West Cumbria”, first report of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment, M Bobrow (chairman) (HMSO, London)
3.
BurnsD, 1978Nuclear Power and the Energy Crisis (Macmillan, London)
4.
CEGB, 1982, “Sizewell B power station public inquiry: Statement of case”, Central Electricity Generating Board, 15 Newgate Street, London EC1
5.
CEGB, 1986, “Chernobyl—could it happen here?”, Central Electricity Generating Board, 15 Newgate Street, London EC1
6.
CharlesworthFRGronowWS, 1967, “A summary of experience in the practical application of siting policy in the United Kingdom”, in Containment and Siting of Nuclear Power Plants (IAEA, Vienna) pp 143–170
7.
DaleGC, 1982, “The safety of the AGR”, Central Electricity Generating Board, 15 Newgate Street, London EC1
8.
Electricity Act, 1957Public General Acts—Elizabeth II chapter 48, (HMSO, London)
9.
Electric Lighting Act, 1909Public General Acts—Edward VII chapter 34, (HMSO, London) Financial Times 1987, 28 January, page 16
10.
FothergillS, 1986, “Phasing out Britain's nuclear power stations”, special report 2, Coalfields Communities Campaign, University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire RG6 2AH, England
11.
Greenpeace, 1986, “Shut them down: A four year timetable for closing all Britain's nuclear reactors”, report by Earth Resources Research Ltd, Environmental Research, 258 Pentonville Road, London N1
12.
GronowWS, 1969, “Application of safety and siting policy to nuclear plants in the United Kingdom”, in Environmental Contamination by Radioactive Materials (IAEA, Vienna) pp 549–559
13.
GronowWSGausdenR, 1973, “Licensing and regulatory control of thermal reactors in the United Kingdom”, in Principles and Standards of Reactor Safety (IAEA, Vienna) pp 521–538
14.
HawkesNLeanGLeighDMcKieRPringlePWilsonA, 1986The Worst Accident in the World (Pan Books, Basingstoke, Hants)
Health and Safety Executive, 1982Emergency plans for civil nuclear installations (HMSO, London)
17.
HeasmanMAKempIWMaclarenAMTrotterPGillisCRHoleDJ, 1984, “The incidence of leukaemia in young persons in West of Scotland”Lancet1188–1189
18.
JohnsonJHZeiglerDJ, 1984, “A spatial analysis of evacuation intentions at the Shoreham nuclear power station”, in Nuclear Power: Assessing and Managing a Hazardous Technology Eds PasqualettiMJPijawkaKD, (Westview Press, Boulder, CO) pp 279–301
19.
JowellR, 1987British Social Attitudes: The 1987 Report (Gower, Aldershot, Hants)
20.
KellyGNClarkeRH, 1982, “An assessment of the radiological consequences of releases from degraded core accidents at the Sizewell PWR”, report 137, National Radiological Protection Board (HMSO, London)
21.
KemenyJG, 1979Report of the President's Commission on the Accident at Three Mile Island (Pergamon Press, Elmsford, NY)
22.
LayfieldF, 1987aSizewell B Public Inquiry report—volumes 1–7, Frank Layfield (Inspector), Department of Energy (HMSO, London)
23.
LayfieldF, 1987bSizewell B Public Inquiry summary of conclusions and recommendations, Frank Layfield (Inspector), Department of Energy (HMSO, London)
24.
MarshallW, 1976Assessment of the Integrity of the PWR Pressure Vessels United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, Study Group, W Marshall (Chairman) (HMSO, London)
25.
MarshallEBillingtonDECameronRFCurlSJ, 1983, “Big nuclear accident”, report 10532, Atomic Energy Research Establishment (HMSO, London)
26.
Nuclear Installations Act, 1965Public General Acts—Elizabeth II chapter 57, (HMSO, London)
27.
National Nuclear Corporation, 1975, “Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station” brochure, Information Services Department, National Nuclear Corporation, Booth Hall, Chelford Road, Nutford, Cheshire WA16 8QZ
28.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 1979Emergency Planning, Final Regulations 10 CFR, parts 50 and 70 (US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC)
29.
OldsFC, 1981, “Emergency planning for nuclear plants”Power Engineering8548–56
30.
OpenshawS, 1982a, “The geography of reactor siting policies in the UK”Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers (new series) 7150–162
31.
OpenshawS, 1982b, “The siting of nuclear power stations and public safety in the UK”Regional Studies16183–198
32.
OpenshawS, 1986Nuclear Power: Siting and Safety (Routledge and Kegan Paul, Andover, Hants)
33.
O'RiordanTKempRPurdueM, 1986, “Nuclear accidents and emergency planning: Sizewell B inquiry in the light of the Chernobyl disaster”Project Appraisal1151–159
34.
Select Committee on Energy, 1981, “The governments statement on the new nuclear power programme: Response to the first report [cmnd 8317]”Report [1980–81] (HMSO, London)
35.
Town and Country Planning Act, 1971Public General Acts—Elizabeth II chapter 78, (HMSO, London)
36.
ZeiglerDJBrunnSDJohnsonJH, 1981, “Evacuation from a nuclear technology disaster”Geographical Review711–16
37.
ZeiglerDJJohnsonJH, 1987, “Evacuation decision-making at Three Mile Island”, in Nuclear Power in Crisis Eds BlowersAPepperD, (Croom Helm, Beckenham, Kent)
