THE man in charge of the company which wants to bring nuclear new build to Cumbria has reaffirmed his firm’s commitment to the county.

Tom Samson, the chief executive of NuGen, which has plans to build a new plant at Moorside near Sellafield, made the comments today (Thursday) at the first ever ‘Cumbria Nuclear Conference’.

This two-day event is taking place in Carlisle and is also attended by Greg Clark, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy – who described the “dawning of a new age of nuclear” – as well as Peter Lutwyche, chief operating officer of the Nuclear Decommissioning Agency and Paul Howarth, the chief executive of the National Nuclear Laboratory, who also chairs the Centre of Nuclear Excellence.

It was organised by the city’s Conservative MP John Stevenson.

Mr Samson praised the Government’s decision last week to back the Hinkley Point nuclear power plant in Somerset.

He said: “Across the UK the Government is encouraging development of nuclear new build and we are hoping to do our part.”

When asked whether his company remained committed to Moorside, he replied: “Absolutely. We are clear with what we need to achieve.”

He pointed out that Moorside could create new jobs but called for changes within Cumbria.

“We have to improve the infrastructure on offer to ensure those opportunities on the west coast are available to all of the people,” he said.

“Infrastructure development has to go alongside development of the site to that it is not a difficult place to get to.”

He added: "Across Cumbria there are opportunities to attract the Cumbrian youth that might otherwise have gone elsewhere to develop their careers".

Mr Samson also said nuclear was a key way for the UK to meet its clean energy commitments.

"If we're going to make an impact on climate change, we need to make an impact on nuclear."

He added: “I think it is an exciting time for nuclear across the board and it is an exciting time for Cumbria.”

Mr Samson also said community engagement was important to NuGen.

“We want to demonstrate that we are listening.”

Mr Lutwyche, was pleased with the conference, said: “One of the things about Cumbria is that it is such a big and diverse county with such a lot of different requirements.”

“The other great things about this business is that it is all about relationships and opportunities to build relationships at things like this are invaluable.”

Mr Howarth echoed these points.

He said: “I think this is a really good conference to bring the capabilities in Cumbria together and I think it is great that this is being held in Carlisle.

“It shows the benefit of nuclear in Carlisle is more than just what is going on on the sites.”

“The backbone of nuclear is based here in Cumbria.”

Lord Hutton, former Barrow MP and Defence Secretary, said: “”The prospects for the nuclear industry in the UK are the best they have been for a generation. That is good news for the UK and it is good news for Cumbria.”

Mr Stevenson described Cumbria as “a nuclear county”.

He said: “I am acutely aware of the machinations of our county’s politics. What is good for Barrow, good for Whitehaven, good for Carlisle and good for Cleator Moor is good for all of us.”

Professor John Fyfe, who has been involved in economic partnerships in Cumbria since the 1980s dounded a word of caution.

He said: “I am delighted that they are committing but I have been through governments before.”

Mr Clark, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, said: "The nuclear industry is absolutely crucial for our energy security in the future.

“The skills and opportunities we have here are important for the nation's economic future and Cumbria is the place where it all started."

"The Government is determined to back new nuclear; we are seeing the dawning of a new age of nuclear power and high quality jobs here in Cumbria."

"I have been to Japan to meet with Toshiba (NuGen partner) and the Japanese government to talk about investment and I am visiting the site today to see it for myself. I think that now that Hinkley has been announced then all eyes are on Moorside and Wylffa Newydd (where another new build is proposed) in Wales."