Hopes for hundreds of new jobs are dashed HEYSHAM will NOT be the home of a ground-breaking third power station it was revealed by Nuclear Electric chiefs this week. Back in August, we reported on nuclear bosses' plans to create a combined gas turbine station on land next to Heysham One, sparking hopes of hundreds of new jobs at the site. But a feasibility study carried out by the company has shown that the scheme isn't viable and the plans have been shelved.

Nuclear Electric spokesman Bob Fenton explained: "This scheme was one of those that we had spent a lot of time and effort on and we were beginning to see results that showed it wasn't going to work out the way we wanted it to.

"Rather than ploughing more money and time into it and keeping people hanging on, we decided to put the brakes on.

That decision has been taken after a review of the technical and commercial aspects demonstrated that the scheme is no longer viable under present conditions."

The proposed gas-powered unit would have been a world first. It was rumoured that Heysham was picked as a possible site because it is so close to the Morecambe Bay Gas Field.

It was thought that the gas station would be used to top up the electricity supply during times when the nuclear-powered Heysham One and Heysham Two weren't working at full capacity.

Mr Fenton added: "We have not completely ruled the project out but the study has been suspended for the time being."

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