Despite receiving over 1400 letters of objection, West Berkshire Council has decided to grant planning permission to the Atomic Weapons Establishment for a new Enriched Uranium Facility

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A street survey conducted by local environmental groups shows that a large majority of local people think that the proposed new Enriched Uranium Facility at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) Aldermaston should not be built.  Over 60% of those who were surveyed believed that the facility should not be built, with just 13% supporting the development. ... more

West Berkshire Council is allowing just three weeks for consultation on the controversial planning application for a new enriched uranium facility at AWE Aldermaston. ... more

NIS considers the proposed new enriched uranium facility at AWE Aldermaston - for which a planning application has now been submitted to West Berkshire Council - to be unnecessary and unaffordable and a potential obstacle to progress at forthcoming arms control talks.  Download our special briefing about AWE's enriched uranium facility and read previously unreleased Ministry of Defence investment appraisal documents for the project. ... more

The government must consult in an open and transparent manner on
proposals for the long term management of plutonium says NIS in response
to a consultation paper on options for the long term management of plutonium.

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Download NIS's special briefing on West Berkshire Council's new emergency plan for the Atomic Weapons Establishment and read about the full consequences of a major accident at one of Berkshire's nuclear weapons factories. ... more

An independent nuclear expert has cast doubt about the ability of emergency services to cope with an accident involving a release of radiation from one of the Royal Navy's nuclear powered submarines when berthed in Southampton Docks.

John Large, who headed the team assessing nuclear and radiation hazards during the salvage of the sunken Russian submarine Kursk, told a public meeting organised by Southampton City Council that staff from the Fire and Rescue Service, Ambulance Service, and Police would be unable to deal with an emergency involving a nuclear submarine without breaching limits for doses of radiation to individual personnel.  

“To the extend that their dose limitation system permits their attendance firefighters will remain in attendance but others, most probably the ambulance trust personnel, more than likely police officers, and most certainly City Council employees will all have to withdraw from the coutermeasures zone”, he said. ... more