The Energy Coast and the supply chain in Cumbria

Sellafield limited has categorically denied allegations from local Labour MP Jamie Reed that they are telling local firms in West Cumbria to move to Cheshire or lose Sellafield orders.

A spokesman for Sellafield limited told the Whitehaven News last week that

“This is categorically not our policy, or that of either of the partners involved in our Design Service Alliance – Axiom and Progressive. West Cumbrian firms have a fair and equal chance to win work under the framework.”

Sellafield say that during the five years since Nuclear Management Partners took over running Sellafield, more than £1billion has gone into the local supply chain in Cumbria.

If, and I say if, there is any truth in the allegation that companies were told to move 100 miles to win local business, this would be an absolutely ridiculous and unacceptable thing to have said to them.

The key words here are "a fair and equal chance" and it must be a priority to make sure this is true.

It is very important to use the procurement money spent with what are, at the end of the day, taxpayer funds, to support local businesses, especially small businesses. Companies in the North West, be it in Cumbria or Cheshire, should have a fair opportunity to bid for local business, and it would be very odd indeed if companies located within ten miles of a site were being told to move more than a hundred miles away if they wanted to win contracts to provide services on that site.

This highlights the need to ensure, if we want to give Cumbrian businesses have a fair chance to win jobs and orders, both at Sellafield and elsewhere, that we improve local infrasturture including road, rail and broadband.

Comments

Jim said…
Think improving our roads is a major thing. I would like to see the a66 as duel carrigeway (something it should have been in the first place) the 595 got a bit better with the new bypass but much more needs to be done, the dual carriageway should really stretch down to Sellafield. Before anyone tries to tell me "we can not afford it" i say this.

In july 2012 there were 34.6 million cars in the uk.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vehicle-licensing-statistics-q2-2012

now my road tax costs £135 per year (it seems to increase each year by £5) Its not the cheapest car to tax nor is it the most expensive, so take it as an average.

That is £4.844 billion, even a council as incompetent as Copeland should be able to build and maintain roads on that amount of money.
Chris Whiteside said…
It's an essential precondition for any new investment in the area. And we shouldn't just be assuming we can get it from the Nuclear industry either, although if there is any major new development some decent roads have to be part of the package.
Jim said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jim said…
to get any sort of development at all I think its a must, and the worst thing is we have paid for it.
already we have paid for it, and that is before we think of looking at the tax on every litre of fuel.

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