by Dan Bloom

A new nuclear power station will not be built at Dungeness before 2025, the Government has confirmed this morning.

The station has been specifically ruled out of a list of eight sites for new stations by the energy secretary, Chris Huhne.

A statement from the Department for Energy and Climate Change at 10.20am said: "The Government response to consultation on the draft Energy NPSs (National Policy Statements), published alongside the new NPSs, confirms that the Government has found that Dungeness in Kent is not suitable for deployment by 2025, due to concerns over the impact of a potential station on important habitat sites."

Mr Huhne said: "Today we are setting out our energy need which will help guide the planning process, so that if sound proposals come forward in sensible places, they will not face unnecessary hold-ups."

The news will come as a blow to those pushing for jobs at the site, including Folkestone and Hythe MP Damian Collins.

But conservationists will be overjoyed, particularly the RSPB, which has a major sanctuary at Dungeness.

A Dungeness C station would have preserved employment at the site. Dungeness A (pictured above left) is currently being decommissioned and Dungeness B will begin the same process in 2018.

To see the full statement visit http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn10_107/pn10_107.aspx

For more stories from Ashford, Folkestone and surrounding areas, pick up a copy of your Kentish Express.