A QUESTION mark still remains over the future of nuclear power at Oldbury.

People living near to the potential site of a new nuclear plant at Oldbury, proposed by energy firm Horizon, are calling on the new Lib Dem-Conservative coalition government to clarify its position.

Nuclear energy was one of the many issues detailed in the coalition government’s agreement decided by the two political parties last week.

Despite acknowledging the Liberal Democrats’ opposition to building new stations, the agreement said the Conservatives plan to push ahead with the National Policy Statement on nuclear, which at the moment names Oldbury as a preferred site.

Reg Illingworth, chairman of Shepperdine Against Nuclear Energy, said: "We request Chris Huhne to give some clarity on the coalition agreement and the priorities of the Department of Energy and Climate Change on nuclear energy."

In the coalition agreement all Liberal Democrat MPs will abstain from the nuclear debate, but the agreement also stated that new nuclear power stations would receive no public subsidy.

Steve Webb, Lib Dem MP for Thornbury and Yate, said he believed the new government would give campaigners a better chance at fighting any new build at Oldbury.

He said: "Even though the Conservatives haven’t dropped their support for new nuclear the process for deciding new sites is going to be more democratic.

"The document also makes clear that there should be no public subsidy.

"For those of us who do not want a new nuclear station at Oldbury the frame work is going to be favourable."

However, Horizon remain optimistic about the project’s chances.

Tim Proudler, planning and consents manager at Horizon, said: "We're very pleased that the new Government will continue to progress new nuclear power projects. Nuclear energy is clean, safe and secure and is at least as affordable as other major low-carbon generation options.

"There’s still a lot to be done to bring about a new build programme in the UK, but good progress has been made to date, and nuclear power has a major role to play along with other technologies such as renewables, in delivering a safe, affordable and secure energy mix for the future."