AWE Aldermaston under special measures for 3rd year

Government's nuclear watchdog extends time period

AWE Aldermaston is to remain under special measures for a third consecutive year, a British nuclear regulatory authority has ordered.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has stated the company must stay under special measures as safety has failed to improve at the site, where the country’s nuclear deterrent, Trident, is manufactured and maintained.

AWE will require “an enhanced level of regulatory attention” for the third year running because of a failure to improve safety performance, says ONR, the government’s nuclear safety regulator.

Reading-based nuclear watchdog, the Nuclear Information Service (NIS) has claimed AWE Aldermaston, was one of a number of Ministry of Defence nuclear sites where safety performance was declining as a result of shortages of skilled personnel, ageing plant and delays in building new facilities.

NIS said AWE Aldermaston was one of just eight out of 36 nuclear sites in the UK that will require an increased level of regulation.

NIS spokesman, Peter Burt, said: “Vast sums of money are being spent by the Ministry of Defence at the Atomic Weapons Establishment, but because of programme delays and management failures no advances in safety have been seen.”

AWE spokeswoman, Catherine Lynagh, said “Delivering safe and secure operations is a core priority for AWE and it fully supports the ONR’s focus on continuing open dialogue in support of delivering safety improvements.”

Paul Rees, AWE’s head of environment, safety and health, added: “A key focus for AWE continues to be the replacement of ageing infrastructure on both the Aldermaston and Burghfield sites to support our crucial role in national defence.”