Displaying items by tag: Cumbria

On 30 October a major fire erupted at the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow, Cumbria, where the UK’s next-generation nuclear submarines are being constructed. Emergency services were called to the facility after the fire broke out around midnight. Local authorities assured residents there was no nuclear risk, but two people were hospitalised with suspected smoke inhalation. The shipyard, with a long history of submarine construction, has faced similar incidents in recent years, including a 2018 fire and a 2017 carbon monoxide leak. Thick smoke from the blaze, visible for miles, has raised concerns among locals, who were asked to avoid the area while emergency services worked to contain the fire.

In April a deadline of 7 July was set for a decision on whether to go ahead with a new coal mine in Cumbria. The proposed mine would remove coking coal, which is used for the production of steel in the UK and Europe, from beneath the Irish Sea. Around 40% of this type of coal needed by the UK is imported from Russia. Meanwhile, West Cumbria is crying out for skilled, long-term, well-paid private-sector jobs. ‘Digging down to level up’ is often quoted; it is the idea that geography should not be destiny, and regional inequalities should be lessened. In light of the war in Ukraine, boosting energy security and reducing the UK's dependence on Russia need to be considered. The Government may also be reconsidering the commitment to net-zero-carbon emissions by 2050. Coal is widely seen as one of the dirtiest and most polluting energy sources. See also