AWE Burghfield exercise tests response to major incident

Agencies from across the region met earlier last week for a major exercise testing the AWE Off-Site Emergency Plan.

The exercise, one of the largest exercises of its kind in recent years, saw agencies respond to a simulated incident involving the release of radioactive materials from AWE Burghfield, which affected areas in West Berkshire, Reading and Wokingham.

The purpose of the exercise was to test West Berkshire Council's AWE Off-Site Emergency Response Plan and to demonstrate to the nuclear regulator that agencies are prepared to respond in the unlikely event of a radiation emergency at the AWE sites in Aldermaston and Burghfield.

The exercise involved more than 180 staff from 32 different agencies at local, regional and national levels and also included emergency services, local authorities, health trusts and specialist organisations.

The testing of the Off-Site Emergency Plan is a legal requirement but also allows all agencies to ensure they are prepared and ready to respond should there ever be an incident at either site.

Chief executive at West Berkshire Council, Nigel Lynn, said: "While the likelihood of such an incident is small, we have plans in place to respond should it be necessary for us to do so and it is essential that we test these plans.

“We regularly test different aspects of our plans but it is not often we have the chance to do so with so many agencies taking part.”

Please visit https://www.westberks.gov.uk/awe for more information about AWE in West Berkshire, its off-site plan and guidance for residents in an emergency.

“This was particularly useful for demonstrating how we all work together across borders to respond to an incident," Mr Lynn added.