Letter: Long-term future of nuclear power

Sir: In your leading article today, you seem to argue, on balance, in favour of continuing nuclear power, mainly on the grounds of a future depletion of North Sea Gas. Why not be even further-sighted, and advocate a real investment in natural renewable resources rather than the present dabbling? Quite apart from global advantages, we must not forget that this is a small, highly-populated island. Taking further risks and adding to our burden of decommissioned plants should not even be an option.

Tight safety standards can never be enough, and to argue that because there are dozens of pressurised water reactors in Europe it would be 'a relatively small additional risk' is to ignore the special case our poor clogged country presents.

Yours etc,

FLORA PITT

Durham

29 December