Give the ‘green light’

Unite today (July 27) urged the board of energy giant EDF to give the green light on the final investment decision for the new Hinckley Point nuclear power station.

The call comes ahead of tomorrow’s (July 28) crunch board meeting where a decision on whether to go ahead with the £18 billion Hinckley Point project is expected to be made.

Describing the project as vital to keeping the lights on in Britain and central to the West Country’s economic success, Unite said workers were ‘ready and raring’ to get started on the full project.

“We urge the EDF board to give the financial go-ahead on a project which will generate thousands of decent skilled jobs and help meet the energy needs of the UK for generations to come,” said Unite national officer for energy Kevin Coyne.

“The cost of not doing so could result in the lights going out in Britain and the West Country missing out on the much needed economic boost which this major infrastructure project would bring,” he added.

“Unite has already done a lot of preparation in reaching agreements with contractors over pay and skills, as well as safeguards against blacklisting on the site. Workers are shovel ready and raring to go, all they need is the green light from the EDF board.”