The Guardian has
the story today of a community worker living near proposed nuclear power stations in Lancashire who has launched an unprecedented case:
The government has ordered an expansion of the UK's nuclear programme without properly factoring in evidence that nuclear power stations cause an increase in cancer cases in children living nearby, according to a legal challenge in the high court.
The case alleges that the energy and climate secretary, Chris Huhne, did not properly review the evidence on cancer when giving the go-ahead for the expansion last year. Lawyers claim the action could delay, or even stop, the programme of new reactors.
Rory Walker, a 24-year-old community worker from Lancaster, has won legal aid to launch the unprecedented case.
Walker lives close to Heysham where two new reactors are planned, and says he is worried about having children who could suffer an increased risk of leukaemia.
....
The government has until the end of the month to make a formal response to the legal action, which will then go to a judge, who may order a hearing in London.
Do read the entire article which details an important and unprecedented current example of
judicial review - the ability of the courts to scrutinise and potentially check the actions of the executive [
Wikipedia summary].
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