An edition of the Tyne Tees Television current affairs programme ‘Briefing’ on the issue of nuclear power with the focus on the Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station on Teesside. Several in-studio discussions are held with various professionals, scientists and politicians on the benefits and drawbacks of both the advanced gas-cooled reactors (AGR) which is being built at Hartlepool as well as the newer Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR). Safety is also an important discussion point as well as the...

An edition of the Tyne Tees Television current affairs programme ‘Briefing’ on the issue of nuclear power with the focus on the Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station on Teesside. Several in-studio discussions are held with various professionals, scientists and politicians on the benefits and drawbacks of both the advanced gas-cooled reactors (AGR) which is being built at Hartlepool as well as the newer Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR). Safety is also an important discussion point as well as the continued delays and cost-overruns at Hartlepool. Title: Tyne Tees Title: Briefing In the Tyne Tees Television studio in Newcastle presenter Ian Breach introduces this edition that will look at nuclear power discussing the pros and cons of atomic energy as well as looking at doubts in the economics benefits of generating energy by nuclear means. The front page of a report written by the Electricity Consumers Council which states that: Title: “The Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) has been misleading and systematically optimistic about the economics of nuclear power.” A montage of exterior and interior views of Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station near Seaton Carew with Ian Breach explaining that it has been under construction since 1968 and whose opening date has again been put back due to more technical troubles. station is nearly eight years late on its original deadline and cost six-times as much as designers estimated and may never work as intended. Back in the studio Ian Breach explains that the programme will look at how delays such as at Hartlepool will affect consumers and asking if the project was mis-conceived and if so whose fault was it and what’s to stop it from happening on the same scale again? As part of a history of Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station a map of Great Britain showing the original eleven Magnox station built in the 1950s and in operation when the station at Hartlepool was planned in the mid-1960s. Another montage of both the outside and inside of the Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station which was built as the more advanced gas-cooled reactors (AGR). Ian Breach provides details on AGR reactors, an untried technology that ran into trouble almost from the start. Back in the studio Ian Breach provides details on the criticism encounter with design and construction of AGR’s including from board members of the CEGB. The map of Great Britain again shows four other AGR reactors other than the one at Hartlepool built from three different designs with still images of the stations at Hunterston, Heysham, Hinkley Point B and Dungeness B. In the reactor room at Hartlepool two men at working installing the first charge of Uranium lowering the rod down beneath the stainless-steel cap floor. A photograph of the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station on the Susquehanna River in Londonderry Township, near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania changes to a man working on a platform underneath the reactor floor followed another montage of both exterior and interiors of the Hartlepool plant with Ian Breach explains the importance of safety. An aerial photograph of the Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station with the town and surrounding Teesside behind is followed by a still of a traditional coalfired power station. Back in the studio Ian Breach states that the cost of building the Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station has risen from £70 million to £520 million. A montage of images of various civil engineering projects which could have been built with the money spent at Hartlepool. Another image of a busy shopping street with Ian explaining the cost of the whole nuclear programme has cost every man, woman and child in Britian £200 each. Ian Breach speaks with two men who have been directly involved with the Hartlepool project and asked then about the many delays, Plant Manager Phil Parkman and Site Manager Frank White. Title: End of Part One Part Two In the Tyne Tees studio Ian Breach introduces an interview he conducted with the Chairman of the CEGB Sir Walter Marshall about his advocacy of a policy of electricity supply that relies on coal, conservation and nuclear power. Can he explains explain the failures, cost over-runs and chronic delays which dog the AGR’s in general and Hartlepool in particular. Returning to the Tyne Tees studio Ian Breach speaks with Meredith Thring, Professor Mechanical Engineering at London University about Sir Marshall’s comments and why his is against nuclear power. Joining the discussion are John Surrey from the Energy Research Group, Ian Fell Professor of Energy Conversion at Newcastle University and John Baker a CEGB Board Member. As well as AGR’s the panel also discuss the benefits and shortcomings of the newer Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR). Ian Breach brings the discussion to a close and introduces an interview conducted earlier in the day with Liberal Party’s Chief Whip and MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed Alan Beith about the party’s opposition to nuclear power. The interview over Ian Breach ends the programme and provides details on the next edition which will focus on four local companies to see what their formula for success is during these hard economic times. Over the closing credits a figure starting beside a nuclear power station. Credit: Presenter Ian Breach Film Cameras Graham Brown, Fred Crone Sound Nic Grant, Ed Gray Editor Krysla Carter-Giez Political Editor John Sleight Director Ronnie Mutch Producer Bob Farnworth End title: Tyne Tees Colour. © Tyne Tees Television Ltd. MCMLXXXII