Artists' opposition to nuclear Lake District

We the undersigned represent hundreds of artists who oppose new nuclear build and "geological disposal" of nuclear waste in Cumbria ( Report , 30 March). The Lake District is synonymous with writers, artists and poets. The Wordsworthian vision of the original Lakeland Artists shaped a renewed reverence for nature. Reverence for nature is anathema to the nuclear industry. Two wildlife officers are employed on site at Sellafield to "humanely" destroy birds and nests. On site, freezers hold hundreds of dead birds and mammals, classified as nuclear waste. Nuclear power is promoted as a solution to climate change, but the likelihood is that it will make the problem worse by diverting resources to an expensive technology which can only ever tackle a very small proportion of greenhouse gas emissions. We strongly oppose new nuclear build, especially at Sellafield, which holds the world's most ferociously volatile stockpiles of high-level liquid nuclear wastes. We oppose the deep disposal of high-level nuclear waste in Cumbria – the uncertainties about how quickly it will leak and arrive back at the surface are just too huge. Above-ground storage is a safer option. The Lake District has sustained generations of artists, writers and poets, farmers, fishermen and hoteliers. It will sustain generations more if we say no to new nuclear build, and say yes to ensuring a viable future – with all nuclear effort and expertise going into looking after existing wastes as safely as possible. Marianne Birkby Milnthorpe, Cumbria , Vivienne Pooley Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria , Hilary Fell Whinfell, Cumbria , Jill Pemberton Kendal, Cumbria , Deborah Windsor Lowgill, Cumbria , Gary Craig Wigton, Cumbria and six others