Public consultation raises concerns about lorries in Burghfield and Theale carrying radioactive submarine waste

The consultation, which runs until February 20, gives members of the public a chance to have their say on which of five UK sites will be used to store radioactive waste from decommisioned UK nuclear submarines.
Shortlisted sites include West Berkshire’s Atomic Weapons Establishment centres at Aldermaston and Burghfield, where the county’s nuclear deterrent, Trident, is manufactured and maintained.
The other possible sites include Sellafield in West Cumbria, and Chapelcross in Dumfriesshire and Capenhurst in Cheshire.
West Berkshire councillor for Theale, Alan Macro (Lib Dem) said it was “crazy” to consider cutting up the nuclear submarines in a coastal port – then transporting them by road inland to Aldermaston or Burghfield.
“They could be transported by sea to Sellafield rather than by country roads to Burghfield and if they go to Aldermaston they would have to travel along the M4,” said Cllr Macro.
“They were built in Sellafield – it would be more sensible to dismantle them there.”
The idea of radioactive waste “trundling past homes in Theale” was, he said, ‘horrifying’.
“There are homes within 50m of the Theale bypass – much of which is elevated
“If a lorry crashed through the barrier, it would go down onto homes, or offices,” said Cllr Macro.
He said he was “very much against the idea”.
“I would prefer the work to be done in the North West (UK) where they need the jobs and have the waste disposal facility,” he said.
Chairman of Aldermaston Parish Council, David Shirt, said his main issue was that AWE’s Detailed Emergency Planning Zone (DEPZ) prevented the building of houses in the immediate area around AWE, and made no sense if lorries carrying radioactive waste from nuclear submarines were travelling in the area.
Other concerns included the waste possibly being transported by lorry through the village.
Mr Shirt said the lorries were more likely to travel along the M3.
Mr Shirt, who attended one of the public meetings held on Monday at AWE Sports and Social Club, said the footprint of space likely to be taken up by the nuclear waste was about 10 per cent of what it (AWE) already has.
“It’s not a big change,” he said, while pointing out the move could set a precedent.”

Public consultations on the issue continue as follows:

Saturday, November 22 – Tadley and District Community Centre
Thursday, January 22 – Burghfield Community Sports Association
Friday, January 23 – Tadley and District Community Centre