Prater defends Liberal Democrat Dungeness Vision

Conservative councillors and other observers have attacked Cllr Prater’s vision of the future of Romney Marsh without the power station

In response to questions from FromUnderTheStone Conservative Councillor (and Kent County Councillor for Romney Marsh) William Richardson wrote ‘The community at Dungeness does not accept the government’s decision as quickly as Cllr Prater has done,

‘We are always looking at measures to regenerate the Romney Marsh even after the final decision on Dungeness has been made, any alternative will be second best to employing 600 people, 200 contractors and twenty apprentices.’

In a letter on the Conservative website Cllr Russell Tillson, echoing his comments during a debate in the Council meeting of November 25, (http://www.shepwayconservatives.org.uk/index.php?sectionid=3&pagenumber=448) terms the vision ‘cloud cuckoo land.’

‘It is clear that the Liberal Democrats are living in a fantasy world of windmills, cycle paths, B and Bs on stilts and loss-making water lifts. And a low paid fantasy world at that.’

Malcolm Dyer of the former Romney Marsh Regeneration Partnership, in comments made to FromUnderTheStone, said the Liberal Democrat’s position is ‘as shiftable as the pebbles on Greatstone Beach.

‘I will be surprised if they do not completely revise their national position and Mr. Prater will instantly gain a nuclear glow to his cheeks!’

In response to questions from FromUnderTheStone, Cllr Prater hit back at these accusations, saying the comments did not fully understand the Liberal Democrat suggestions for the Marsh.

Repeating his vision of tourism playing a major role in the future Marsh economy, Cllr Prater stated ‘I'm afraid neither Cllr Richardson or Malcolm Dyer seem yet to understand what we're suggesting for the Marsh economy.

‘It’s not a question of tourism or nuclear power station. If we can have both - fine: I'm not personally fundamentally anti-new Nuclear build. But it seems less and less likely that we'll get new Nuclear build. We're looking at other options. What else would a rational person do?

‘"Cloud-cuckoo land" is waiting for a one-off solution that may or (increasingly likely) may not happen.’

The decision by the government to not consider Dungeness as possible site for a new nuclear power station has been a hot topic for debate. Polls conducted by other websites and Romney Marsh FM appear to show that public opinion strongly favours a new nuclear power station on the site, although many of the links are through Conservative web pages. Commentators have termed the decision a ‘hammer blow’ to the Marsh economy.

Liberal Democrat policy of ‘no to nuclear’ appears to fly in the face of popular local opinion and as a result appears to be placing the Shepway Liberal Democrats in a difficult position.

Cllr Prater's full vision for the Marsh: http://www.shepwaylibdems.org.uk/articles/000124/dungeness_the_real_nuclear_option.html.