Safety check for warhead factories plant
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The veil of secrecy surrounding Britain's nuclear warhead plants at Aldermaston and Burghfield is to be lifted by the Ministry of Defence which is opening them to the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate.
The move will bring the two plants in Berkshire - the scene of 1960s peace demonstrations - under the same inspection rules as Britain's civil nuclear plants, such as Dungeness and Sellafield.
John Spellar, the defence minister said: "This will provide independent assurance that nuclear related activities at the Atomic Weapons Establishment are carried out safely and pose no threat to the workforce, the public or the environment."
Anti-nuclear campaigners believe the inspectorate is likely to fail the sites, because of the growing stockpiles of nuclear waste, which are increasing after the Nirex application for a deep depository at Sellafield, Cumbria, was turned down.
"There are increasing amounts of nuclear waste on the sites. They also have at Aldermaston buildings which are entirely contaminated and closed. We believe they have 3,000 tons of intermediate nuclear waste stored on site," said a spokesman for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
The Health and Safety Executive investigated the plant at Aldermaston in 1994 and expressed some concern about waste management problems.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments