Go-ahead for atomic weapons centre (From This is Hampshire)
When news happens, text SDE and your photos or videos to 80360. Or contact us by email and phone.
New facility at AWE Aldermaston
12:27pm Thursday 9th February 2012 in News By Helen Morton
PLANS for a new atomic weapons facility at the AWE site in Aldermaston have been given the go-ahead.
Despite dozens of campaigners protesting before last night’s West Berkshire Eastern Area Planning Committee meeting, permission was granted for a Technical Development Centre.
The new facility, which is to replace the cancelled, highly-contentious Project Hydrus, will support hydrodynamics work at the site, housing a radiographic development hall, laboratories, workshops, offices, plant rooms, conference and welfare facilities.
About 30 staff will be employed and it will allow technological developments to be pursued in X-ray and other techniques.
Hydrodynamics research facility Project Hydrus was cancelled in September 2010, when the UK and France signed a joint treaty to construct a shared research facility.
Dr Graeme Nicholson, AWE’s Director of Science and Technology said: “The treaty signing paved the way for the UK and France to share the EPURE facility for future hydrodynamics research.
“It was also agreed that the UK would support this work by constructing a Technology Development Centre at AWE Aldermaston which scientists from both nations will use.” Members of of ‘No To Atomic Weapons Development’, a local network of Berkshire Greenpeace, Reading Peace Group, and the Nuclear Awareness Group, gathered outside the meeting in Calcot, dressed as mad scientist and wearing gags, to symbolise the fact they didn’t feel their objections were being listened to.
Hannah Jones, of the group, said they were disappointed, but not surprised with the decision to approve the centre. Council officers had recommended that planning permission be granted.
A spokesperson from AWE said they are pleased that the application has been approved.
Comments(2)
robertspet8
says...
1:23pm Fri 10 Feb 12
Kirpi wrote:I agree with all you say except in one respect - don't close AWE down, just change the work it does. I am sure that much of the facility could be adapted to non-weapons research without too much cost.
The amount of money wasted at Aldermaston on nuclear vanity projects over the years is staggering. Close the place down and put the scientists to work doing something useful.
Kirpi says...
9:47am Fri 10 Feb 12