Ricky Knight condemns Sedgemoor £100,000 nuclear gift

29 May 2009

Ricky Knight, who expects to become a Green MEP for the South West has condemned the behaviour of Tory controlled Sedgemoor Council over their secret gift of public land to Bridgewater College to the Energy Skills Centre where they will conduct training in nuclear skills.

The Executive of Sedgemoor District Council has secretly agreed to donate a plot of publicly owned land, worth £100,000 to the Energy Skills Centre at Bridgwater College. The centre aims to provide training in nuclear skills. The publicly owned land is between Bridgewater College and the railway station.

A special evening meeting held on 11th May to debate the proposed new nuclear site at Hinkley Point specifically excluded the press and the public when discussing the gift of taxpayers land.

The details of the 'transfer' of ownership of the land have been undertaken by Doug Bamsey, Director of Regeneration, who was at the centre of a recent controversy when he secretly wrote to nuclear company EdF asking for a £750,000 donation to Sedgemoor for legal and other fees.

Ricky Knight, Lead Candidate for the South West in the European Elections expressed dismay at the decision of Tory controlled Sedgemoor District Council. He said, “Councils should always remember that they are using public funds and all decisions of this nature should be taken in an open, honest and transparent way. I am appalled that the Council should behave in this manner especially when the public are questioning the ethical and moral stance of so many public figures.”

Sedgemoor District Council state on their website:

“Sedgemoor District Council takes all forms of Fraudulent or corrupt behaviour, whether internal or external, very seriously. This is supported through the provision of an Anti-fraud and Corruption Strategy, an on site team of specialist Benefit Fraud Investigators and the Internal Audit section who work to ensure fairness.”

Ends:

Notes to Editors:

1. The Executive agreed to the transfer of land at Bridgwater College to enable the development of the Energy Skills Centre, with delegation of the agreement of the details of the transfer to the College to the Corporate Director Regeneration in consultation with the Leader.

Minutes of Special Meeting of SDC Executive 11th May 2009 6pm:
http://www.sedgemoor.gov.uk/ramnet/(S(3b40dg45mq0fa1jiudc0nx55))/RamNetMeeting.aspx

2. The news emerges as EdF, who plan to build two giant reactors at Hinkley Point, have gone back on their claims to build a series of new reactors without public subsidy, and are now asking the Government for financial support.

3. Financial Times article on EdF request for Government help:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1369ae48-4972-11de-9e19-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=rss

South West Green Party RSS Feed