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Thursday, November 18, 2021

Newbury Weekly News

NEWBURY NEWS

Ageing facilities ‘concern’ at AWE Aldermaston Atomic weapons establishment infrastructure dated

AN ecology report commissioned by the Atomic Weapons Establishment in Aldermaston as part of a planning application for a new high explosives fabrication facility showed a healthy population of glow worms. Which might raise a wry smile here and there. The limit on building developments in the area sees regular wildlife audits. Oak number 3474 is one of 15 Aldermaston trees surveyed by the AWE environment team this year to record their details and estimated ages. It is said to be nearly 600 years old. Wildlife is thriving in shadow of nuclear base

Ancient oak tree at Aldermaston Nine oaks are categorised as ‘ancient’ – the oldest status – while four hold the slightly younger title of ‘veteran’. One is also a roost for a barn owl, which is a protected species with declining numbers. They are also trying to encourage peregrine falcons back. Artificial nestboxes are being installed to compensate

for buildings that are being demolished. There are also black redstarts, woodpeckers, little ringed plovers, woodlark and lapwings. Orchids are said to grow well on the bunkers. There are also adders, great crested newts, a selection of bats and badgers, Emperor and Scarlett Tiger moths and some bog brush crickets.

By NIKI HINMAN Local Democracy Reporter niki.hinman@newburynews.co.uk @newburytoday

AWE Aldermaston (Atomic Weapons Establishment) is to remain under enhanced scrutiny for another year. The nuclear watchdog, the Office for Nuclear Respon- sibility (ONR), has just pub- lished its report in to safety at both Aldermaston and Burgh- field. The report says the key ar- eas of concern are the ‘ageing facilities and infrastructure’. The plants build and main- tain the UK’s nuclear missile deterrent, Trident. Eight people were injured at Aldermaston in separate in- cidents in the last year. Three at Burghfield. ONR operating facilities director Michael Finnerty said: “We are maintaining our enabling approach to ensure that further safety improve- ments necessary at Aldermas- ton are delivered in a timely fashion and that the safety improvements demonstrated at Burghfield continue to be sustained. “However, we will continue to hold these sites to account should they fall short of the expected standards.” The report says Aldermas- ton has made some progress, but significant improvement will need to be delivered in key areas, with consideration for a move to routine atten- tion not thought likely before the end of 2022 at the earliest. AWE’s director of environ- ment, safety and health Paul Rees said: “There’s more work to be done tomeet these projec- tions, but the progress we’ve made to date, particularly at Burghfield, demonstrates our strong commitment to sus- tained and improved safety performance. “We will continue to work closely with the ONR to achieve these standards.” FIVE Aldermaston incidents reported to the Office for Nuclear Responsibility in the past 12 months: 1: February 2021: During routine maintenance on a furnace, a stirrer started moving unexpectedly. An investigation found the direct cause of the incident was a faulty control panel ‘beyond its expected life service’.

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AWE Aldermaston

event of a release of radiation, they will also have to pop to a nearby chemist and stock up on potassium iodide tablets. Last spring, a blue book- let was circulated advising local residents and business- es what to do in the unlikely event of an emergency at the AWE Aldermaston or Burgh- field sites. Produced by West Berk- shire Council and AWE in conjunction with Hampshire, Basingstoke, Reading and Wokingham Borough Coun- cils, it was in response to new Radiation (Emergency Pre- paredness and Public Infor- mation) Regulations. The booklet contains details about the extent of the emer- gency planning zones around the AWE Aldermaston and Burghfield sites, along with details of how you would be alerted and what actions to take. One of the key takeaways is that one should ‘stay indoors’ should such an event occur.

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There’s more work to be done to meet these projections, but the progress we’ve made to date... demonstrates our strong commitment to improved safety and performance

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Not that the locals have any real reason to fear: AWE re- assures them there will be no ‘immediate danger’ to anyone. In any case, those running the bomb factory tell the pub- lic the chance of an accident is so remote it is not worth wor- rying about. Everyone who lives here hopefully knows that in the 2: December 2020: AWE fined £660,000 after pleading guilty to a Health and Safety offence. A contractor narrowly avoided injury when a flash over of electricity occurred when he attempted to remove a flash guard in a fuse box, believing that the electricity had been isolated and disconnected, when in fact a live circuit was present. There was no radiological risk to workers or the public.

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Reported incidents at Aldermaston

3: November 2020: Methyl ethyl ketone solvent leak sets off control room alarm. No injuries reported. 4: October 2020: Stack inspection strategy for decommissioning falls short of standards. 5: August 2020: Steam valve

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fails causing valve and insulation to be ejected prompting an on site emergency response.