City by-pass jobs hope

THE OPENING of a multi-million pound new road in north Cumbria will have economic benefits for Annandale and Eskdale, it has been claimed.

Potential employment for workers in the nuclear and construction industries was predicted — thanks to the northern by-pass opening ahead of schedule at Carlisle.

The route, avoiding city centre bottlenecks, trims up to 30 minutes from journey times for traffic travelling between Scotland and West Cumbria.

Staff at Chapelcross are already experiencing significant improvements in travelling times to its sister Sellafield complex.

Spokesman Sean Marshall explained that there was regular movement between Annan and West Cumbria and collaborative work at the former Calder Hall nuclear power station.

But he saw the main benefits as being more long-term with plans for a new nuclear power station near Sellafield and decades of work scheduled at the existing Cumbrian site.

Mr Marshall, who is a local councillor, said: "The priority of the CoReS and Beyond Chapelcross projects is to encourage new jobs to this area but they would also like to see workers, leaving Chapelcross with transferable skills, to benefit from any possible Sellafield opportunities.

"There are already ex-Chapelcross workers, now with contractors, commuting daily but this new road means this is a more attractive proposition.

"It means they can use and retain their skills while still living in their home area and, of course, benefit the local economy here."

The Sellafield area is on a short-list of proposed nuclear stations feeding the UK grid from south of the border.

Estimates put the overall economic benefit of the proposed reactor as up to £9 billion and, if the go-ahead is given, work could begin as early 2016.

There could be employment for up to 5000 people during the construction phase with up to 800 permanent jobs at the power station.

Around 80 Chapelcross operations jobs are due to go in June, 2013, with the completion of the defuelling phase.

Dumfriesshire construction workers could also benefit from the new road due to the jobs the power station building project would create

Frank McGowan, Royal Burgh of Annan Community Council chairman and Chapelcross Unite union convener, also welcomed the road.

He said: "I've spoken to some people who have saved half an hour in their morning journey.

"If workers can remain in the industry earning good money, while staying in their homes here, then the whole area will benefit from their spending power."



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