nuclear-news

Courier and Mersea Island Environmental Alliance (MEIA) concerned at dangers of nuclear plan for Bradwell

At the recent community event at the MICA Tuesday 10th October
representatives of the Courier and Mersea Island Environmental Alliance
(MEIA) spoke to various Magnox personnel regarding the lack of an emergency
plan to evacuate the island in case of a nuclear emergency, specifically a
terrorist act against the site.

Magnox responded with the following
statement: “As a result of the efforts Magnox has made to reduce hazards
on Bradwell site we have been able to satisfy the regulator that an
off-site plan is no longer required to protect the local community. We will
continue to maintain an appropriate level of monitoring as required by our
regulators. The local authority still maintains response plans under the
Civil Contingencies Act and these plans will cover any required response to
the site.”

MEIA commented: “Magnox is clearly referring to the
decommissioning and for that their statement is incorrect and unhelpful as
the question was specific. Our question was on the regional Bradwell
nuclear store which will be full of nuclear waste and our concern is that
if the store was targeted by terrorists the consequences could be
catastrophic.

Bradwell has already been identified by the Government as a
potential target being both close to the major army barracks at Colchester
and by its proximity to London. That risk will increase with potential
Chinese new build. Any terrorist attack on the Bradwell regional nuclear
store immediately threatens the local population, in particular those
living closest and others on Mersea under canvas and in holiday
accommodation.

Cllr Peter Banks, Green Party candidate and member of BANNG
and West Mersea Town Council remarked: “What about the fact that the
Graphite Core is classed as high level waste and represents a threat too.
The large reactor one and two buildings represent an easy target, less
chance of missing… At the last LCLC Site Closure Director Bob Nicholls
announced they were building a cover to one of the pits ‘even though
there was no radiation threat’… which begs the question why would they
do that?”

Mersea Island Courier 14th Nov 2017

https://www.facebook.com/TheMerseaIslandCourier/

November 16, 2017 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, UK