Cumbria’s cash-strapped local authorities could miss out on a multi-million pound windfall from nuclear new build at Sellafield. At present, local authorities receive 50 per cent of the business rates from the nuclear industry in Cumbria, with the rest going to central government. But ministers are proposing that Whitehall keeps all the rates received from Moorside, Sellafield, where NuGen plans to build the UK’s biggest nuclear power plant. This would amount to many millions of pounds – Sellafield’s annual rates bill is £32 million. Workington Labour MP Sue Hayman is demanding a rethink. She said: “One of the areas that our local community gets the most funding from is the nuclear industry, in order to fund vital public services in Cumbria. “With the swingeing cuts being imposed upon local government, it is more important than ever that we receive assurances that the services that our local councils can provide will not have to be cut further.
Carlisle News and Star 19th Jan 2016 read more »