Hitachi to build reactors at Oldbury

So it's a done deal. Hitachi have bought Horizon (see news release) in a deal expected to be concluded by the end of November and will seek to license their reactor design within two years. Their UK partners will include Babcock International and Rolls Royce. Hiroaki Nakanishi president of Hitachi Ltd commented:'Today starts our 100 year commitment to the UK and its vision to achieve a long-term, secure, low-carbon, and affordable energy supply.'

The impact on our local economy will be massive and should ensure a more vibrant economy for decades to come.

Oldbury's nuclear future reviving?

Bloomberg has reported that e.on and RWE are to sell their joint holding in Horizon Nuclear Power to Japan's Hitachi for £600 million. While the deal could be completed in days, the licensing of Hitachi's reactor design could take up to 4 years.

EdF has already started preliminary work for construction at Hinkley Point so the future for UK nuclear is beginning to look a little more positive. It will be too little to have any significant impact on global carbon dioxide emissions but at least there's a chance that the lights won't go out in the UK in 2025.

More importantly for Thornbury, there is now the prospect of a significant boost to the local economy during construction and later in operation.

Thornbury Gazette will no doubt be overwhelmed by protests from the anti-nuclear lobby as soon as the news is announced. It's a pity that it has to be a design that is not yet licensed in the UK but better that than nothing.

500 new homes for Thornbury?

So campaigners are dismayed as a plan for 500 homes at Park Farm Thornbury is backed by councillors (Thornbury Gazette, Thursday, 25 October 2012). It comes as no surprise then that Save Thornbury's Green Heritage are suggesting a judicial review.

I happen to favour an increase in Thornbury's population because I am convinced that the alternative is a town that gradually dies. I also favour putting the heart back into Thornbury with the High Street becoming less peripheral. I'm not holding my breath though because there are sites at Filton and Emerson's Green, amongst others, where there is little opposition and these will be favoured for immediate development. These will also be the communities which will have first call on investment in shops, health facilities and transport. The consequences for Thornbury? In my view we will be left with our heritage and very little else!

And on a final note, I hope that our heritage is not being hyped up. For examples, are our fishponds really medieval? Presumably someone somewhere has some facts?

Solar panel protest grows

I feel very sorry for the resident in Castle Street whose installation of solar panels has attracted such wrath. He followed the rules, his installation is legal yet he is still subjected to attack.

As I've said before, the architectural merit of Castle Street's skyline is at least as badly damaged by the neighbours, many in listed buildings, who adorn their chimneys with unsightly aerials. If the solar panels have to go, no doubt the aerials will be next. And what then? Installation of Victorian gas lighting? A return to cobbles? A ban on traffic except for horse-drawn carriages and carts? Demolition of all buildings in Castle Street which are not listed?