8th August 2006

Greens raised problem with nuclear authorities in December 2002

A simulated accident at Hinkley Point nuclear power station has exposed significant flaws in the emergency response plans (i).

Photo: Oldbury with a projection of 'Kapow' by Greenpeace

 
Greens fear the same problems could be found at Oldbury nuclear power station.

The exercise, code-named Exercise Frome, involved a scenario in which 'radioactive' gas was released to the atmosphere from Hinkley Point B nuclear power station following an "accident". The exercise involved the owners British Energy, emergency services, health authorities, local councils and a wide range of Government departments.

Cllr. Philip Booth, a Stroud District councillor and spokesperson for Gloucestershire Green party said: "We welcome the exercise taking place, but find it horrifying that after all these years we still have not got nuclear emergency plans that work - especially as it was only last month we heard that Government nuclear inspectors have raised serious questions over the safety of our ageing atomic power stations following the discovery of major cracks in reactor cores (iii)."

Philip Booth said: "Perhaps most disturbing of all is that this exercise found that there was no plan for distributing radiation-blocking potassium iodate tablets to members of the public. This is an issue we have raised specifically with nuclear authorities as long ago as December 2002 (ii). It appears our criticisms have fallen on deaf ears. Can we really trust these authorities to take our concerns seriously?"

Philip Booth concluded: "The best emergency plan must be to remove the risk in the first place. Our nuclear reactors should be shut down for good. Renewable energy is safer, cheaper and better for the environment - and no one is going to fly a plane into a wind turbine."


Notes:

(i) See Western Morning News

(ii) See Green party news releases from that time:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=394&Itemid=2
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=320&Itemid=2

(iii) See Green party comment:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1348&Itemid=2
See Guardian report:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,,1812794,00.html