‘It’s Sellafield or nothing’: what life is like growing up in the shadow of Europe’s oldest nuclear site

Young people in Whitehaven on England's north-west coast rely on the power plant for everything from jobs to civic investment. But for those who see their future elsewhere, options can be limited

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• Photographs by Polly Braden

It is a rainy Thursday in Whitehaven on the north-west coast of England, but the seafront is buzzing with activity. This Saturday is Harbour Fest, a day of music, performance and activities. An array of colourful street food vendors are already setting up.

It's unusual to see such excitement on the seafront, says 18-year-old Lacey Ritson. Growing up, Lacey and her friends would gravitate to picturesque Saint Bees along the coast or the nearby Lake District if they wanted to spend time by the water. And sometimes, she says, we'd sit by the river and look at people, guessing who worked at Sellafield - like, they've got a nice car - they're from Sellafield'".