By Matthew Legg

Last updated at 13:50, Wednesday, 28 July 2010

A nature trail at Sellafield has been scrapped to save cash.

Site bosses have canned the eight acre Yottenfews environmental project, saving £60,000.

The site has provided wildlife trails for schools and community groups for 15 years.

It was set up by previous site owner BNFL to bolster its environmental credentials amid criticism about radioactive discharges.

But new site operators Nuclear Management Partners (NMP) rules the venture no longer fitted its business plan.

The company has pledged to support other community education projects.

David Moore, chairman of the West Cumbria Stakeholders Group, the community’s health and safety watchdog for Sellafield, said he was unhappy at the decision.

“I am really disappointed. This has been of real value for kids for so long, it’s got them out of the classrooms and out into the environment where they can study the flora and fauna.

“I am also unhappy that the stakeholders haven’t been consulted by Sellafield about something which has been of real value and benefit to the community. I see this kind of saving as a pittance, it’s not a real saving for the industry, just tinkering about the edges.”

Sellafield’s strategic communications manager Ali McKibbin said: “The Yottenfews project has run for a great number of years but we are developing different ways of supporting education locally with some new and fresh ideas.

“The money saved will be spent on specialist education resources such as the Lab in a Lorry brought in for Science Week.

“Our education activities are aimed at building the aspirations and achievements of young people in our communities and supporting the skills agenda of Britain’s Energy Coast West Cumbria.”

First published at 11:21, Wednesday, 28 July 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk