A FAMILIAR face has returned to Oldbury to take up the helm at the power station.

Phil Sprague, 51, started as Oldbury site director on January 4 and will see the station through its final years as a generating power plant before decommissioning begins.

Phil, who has lived in Coaley for 17 years, is no stranger to Oldbury, having worked at the station for two years until 2008 as decommissioning manager, later becoming business manager.

He said: "I wanted to come to Oldbury because of the challenge of the job. This is a fantastic site. I’ve worked here before and loved every second of it.

"Technically this is an easy site, but it’s a big site, it’s an important site and the challenge for me is being able to keep up the good reputation the station has in the local community.

"There is a lot going on for Oldbury. We are at the forefront of the new build programme and we have the continuing operation of this site."

With 27 years' experience in the nuclear industry Phil has worked at, or has been involved in projects at most of the Magnox nuclear power stations around the country including Wylfa in north Wales, Dungeness B, Hinkley, Berkeley and more recently as site director at Trawsfynydd.

The father-of-three, who trained as an environmental chemical engineer at Exeter University, can be found most weekends on the sidelines of Dursley Rugby Club, where he helps coach the under-15 side.

Phil replaces former site director Joe Lamonby who has been promoted to chief operating officer of Magnox limited and is now overseeing all Magnox plants that are still generating electricity. With the new post Joe remains based in the Oldbury area.