Town could become a “post-industrial wasteland” – warning

WARRINGTON could become a “post-industrial wasteland” if Britain leaves the European Atomic Energy Community – Euratom.
The warning came today from Cllr Bob Barr, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the borough council and the party’s candidate in the Warrington South constituency.
He was speaking after an all-party Commons Select Committee accused the Government of putting the nuclear industry at risk.
According to the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership, the energy-related sector forms a strategically important part of the Cheshire and Warrington economy.
It comprises  about 900 companies, 19,000 jobs and £2.8 billion of sales per annum and includes a number of unique energy-related assets.
Cllr Barr said: “Now this vital part of Warrington’s economy has been put at risk by the Conservatives, who called a reckless referendum on our future membership of the European Union, without ever considering the consequences of a Leave vote.
“Having unexpectedly lost that referendum, they have made matters worse by announcing that the UK is leaving Euratom.
“This decision was severely criticised by an all-party select committee of the House of Commons because it puts jobs and energy supplies at risk.
“Warrington will be unusually severely affected by these decisions because it is the national centre for the nuclear industry.
“The Conservatives now appear to treat Warrington as a safe seat and take support here for granted. Yet when it comes to every issue that affects the town they let Warrington down.
“Promises on tolls across the new Mersey Gateway Bridge have been broken, the unfairly low school funding for the town has not been corrected, rail investment passes the town by.
“However, failing to consider the disastrous ramifications of its Brexit objectives for the nuclear industry is the biggest threat to Warrington from this government.
“This one step may switch Warrington from being the only high wage low welfare town in the North of England, to another post-industrial wasteland.”