Object to plans for a Warhead Assembly facility at AWE

Take action now against the building new facilities at the Atomic Weapons Establishment site at Burghfield, designed to allow for warhead maintenance and construction for another 50 years.

Using our online lobbying tool you can register your objection with the local planning authority - building pressure for a full public enquiry. CND supports the demand of the Nuclear Information Service - that any facility be limited to dismantling existing warheads, whilst questioning whether carrying out any of these hazardous operations on a site prone to severe flooding is acceptable.

For more information on the proposed facility, see this briefing, prepared by NIS.

Your name:
Address line 1:
Address line 2:
Town:
Postcode:
Your email address:
Type this text into the box :
Subject:

Please feel free to modify this letter or write your own

Dear Sir, MoD / AWE Planning Application No: 08/02287/COMIND I wish to object to the above planning application that appears to have three names: i. Warhead Assembly / Disassembly facility ii. MENSA iii. Main Process Facility (MPF) Please can you explain why there is this confusion? In the past, West Berkshire Planning Committee has refused to consider objections to new developments at AWE on moral or international law grounds. But, whereas previous applications have been related to research or small components, this application goes to the heart of the British government’s threat to commit genocide. I consider that West Berkshire Council does not have the authority to approve the plan for a nuclear warhead assembly plant without accepting its share of liability for any outcome. For this reason, a Public Inquiry should be held, thus relieving the Council from an unreasonable burden. Additionally, Planning Committee members should be made aware that they could withdraw from voting on this application as a matter of conscience. I object to the plan as it stands. While a new facility is needed on safety grounds, to replace the existing sub-standard buildings for the disassembly of nuclear warheads, this facility will also lend itself to the assembly of new nuclear warheads for the next 50 years. If the Council considers approving the plan, I urge that a Condition is applied: that only disassembly of warheads takes place in the facility, and not the assembly of new or serviced warheads. I object to the erection of another building in a beautiful rural area and the noise and traffic congestion that will be created during the construction process. I object that a proper Environmental Impact Assessment has not been completed and consider that the MoD-approved Environmental Statement is inadequate, as no acceptable justification test has been applied. I object that this application relates to land on the vulnerable Burghfield flood plain. It is a disastrous site for a facility where criticality sensitive operations are to take place. AWE efforts to protect the buildings from flood water may prove inadequate in the years to come when increasing flooding is predicted as a result of Climate Change. "

By submitting this form, I agree to allow CND to forward the above message to West Berkshire Council after reviewing the content for abuse. I understand my data will be retained under the CND Privacy Policy.