Conservative Chairman Reiterates Support for Dungeness C

Conservative Chariman and Shepway District Councillor Russell Tillson has reiterated Shepway Conservatives’ commitment to a new Dungeness C power station following a recent announcement by Shepway Liberal Democrat Leader Lynne Beaumont to hold an ‘Eco-Tourism summit’ to discuss alternative plans for Romney Marsh.


In an email to FUTS, Cllr Tillson says ‘There is little that Cllr Mrs Beaumont has said with which I disagree – except, of course, for her attempt to write Dungeness C out of the script. The importance of Dungeness cannot be understated.’

Revealing the council has commissioned a specialist report into the matter and is ‘putting enormous pressure on the government to alter its decision’, Cllr Tillson describes the power station as ‘vital’ to the local economy, stating the existing A and B stations employ over 1000 people, inject ‘over £30 million’ into the local economy, and that '9.6% of men on the Marsh work in electricity, gas and water supply, the overwhelming majority of whom work in electricity generation'.

‘This is employment we cannot do without, and Dungeness C must go ahead, since it will create employment for at least 400 people directly and probably another 100 jobs indirectly in shops, hotels and suppliers of other goods and services.

‘I don’t see tourism as an alternative to the power station, but rather as a complement. Nobody who lives on the Marsh is keener than I am to support the development of tourism. Indeed I look forward to the day when our Marsh coastline is full of hotels, B&Bs, restaurants, pubs and shops.

‘The Environment Agency, however, might have other ideas about tourist development since much of the Marsh area lies in a high risk Category 3A flood risk area.’

Noting that tourist season lasts for ‘six months at best’ and would only provide ‘low-paid’ employment, Cllr Tillson has offers to meet Cllr Beaumont to discuss the issue further.

‘Cllr Mrs Beaumont wants me to attend a meeting to debate all this. And she likes cycling. So I’ll do better than that. I invite Cllr Mrs Beaumont to join me on a day’s bike ride which will enable us to discuss her Business Plan at length, and will have the added benefit of introducing a lady from Folkestone to the various attractions across the Marsh, many of which might very well be quite new to her.’

The government’s decision to not consider Dungeness as a site for a new-build power station has provoked much comment and debate. The Liberal Democrats have been pushing for an alternative vision for the Marsh and have recently raised concerns over the future of waste storage at the site. The Conservative group is strongly in favour of a new nuclear power station.

Recently there appears to have been some softening of positions on both sides. In a similar fashion to Cllr Tillson’s comments, Cllr Beaumont recently said to Romney Marsh Times that tourism plans would ‘complement' a power station and that it is not an 'either/or decision.'

Whether Cllr Tillson and Beaumont will enjoy a bike ride together remains to be seen.