内容摘要："So there's a ripple effect across the economy from local suppliers and contractors to cultural attractions."

"So there's a ripple effect across the economy from local suppliers and contractors to cultural attractions."

Under the proposals, Hinkley Point B, which opened in 1976, could be decommissioned in three phases.The first phase, which will last until 2038, includes the dismantling of all buildings and plant materials except for the site’s safestore structure. This facility will be used to store and manage the residential nuclear waste from the power station.

The second phase will see “a period of relative inactivity” of up to 70 years from 2039, to allow for the radioactive materials within the safestore to safely decay, according to theWhile physical activity within the site will be minimal during this phase, the former power station will remain under close surveillance with “periodic maintenance interventions” to prevent any risk to health or national security.The third and final phase will see the former reactor and debris vaults being dismantled and removed and any final landscaping work being completed – with EDF estimating that this will be finished by 2118.

The consultation is running until 9 December, with the ONR expected to publish its formal response in early 2025.EDF is currently building Hinkley Point C, which has a target completion date of June 2027.

, it is expected to generate enough electricity to supply some six million homes for the next 60 years.

A campaign group has forced the planting of a commercial forest on black grouse moorlands in the Scottish Borders to be halted.However, director of finance Fiona Greenway, reported there had been an increase to savings targets for the 2025-26 financial year, which "only makes the challenge more difficult".

She also urged the authority to be cautious over a £220.8m forecast deficit in the current year since "there has been a historic tendency for the financial position to deteriorate" during the year.For this reason, the council should tightly monitor all spending over the remainder of the year, and look further at adult and children's care, homelessness and street-scene improvements, she wrote.

The finance director recommended care packages over a certain weekly cost should be reviewed and approved by a more senior member of staff, for instance, and top suppliers' contracts be negotiated down.To correct the projection, "an additional £11.982m of savings opportunities are being accelerated" from 2025-26 into the current financial year, the report stated.