11th August 2006

Photo left: Nuclear flask train (Reproduced here with permission of Martin Bond)

You report that Richard Warner, a former safety engineer at Oldbury, considers the transport of nuclear waste in this country is safe. This is despite the recent news about a wrongly fitted valve and independent nuclear experts claims that this could have been disastrous (Gazette 4/08/06).

As a member of the public I cannot help but be skeptical of claims made by the nuclear industry. It started with the promise of 'fuel too cheap to meter' and has continued through to recent news of falsified records and a major radioactive leak at Sellafield which went undetected for 8 months despite over 100 warnings including alarms!

Richard Warner notes that in the last 45 years there have been 'no substantial incidents' in transporting nuclear waste. Maybe, but The Guardian reports there are 30 accidents involving nuclear trains each year in Britain (i) and we are in a very different world since 9/11 and our Government's support for unjust wars. The International Atomic Energy Agency considers transport to be the nuclear operation most vulnerable to terrorist attack - the casks are vulnerable to armour piercing rounds and travel unescorted but for the driver and guard.

I hope Richard Warner is right and these flasks that travel through our District are safe, but why take the risk? Nuclear is not the answer to our energy problems.

David Wood, Stroud District Green party



Notes to the Editor:

(i) The industry says they pose no risk, but environmentalists disagree.
Guardian 31st May 2006
http://society.guardian.co.uk/societyguardian/story/0,,1785848,00.html