17th April 2007

Oldbury reactors have been shut since maintenance in June 2005 raised concerns over the safety of its graphite core. A safety review by British Nuclear Group was completed last year - and a report was submitted to the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) in December. Earlier this month it was reported that Oldbury nuclear power station which is 16 miles from Stroud could be switched back on this summer.

Photo: Oldbury power station 

Oldbury opened in 1966 and was due to close 10 years ago and the NII acknowledge it has 'less than two years left before the end of generation'.

Cllr Philip Booth, a local District councillor said: "Last year local Green party members helped Radio 4's flagship investigative programme File on Four look at the nuclear industry's safety record. Information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act showed a catalogue of incidents from leaking cooling system pipes, cracks in boiler tubes and cracks to the graphite core."

Philip Booth said: "Oldbury has the worst weight loss of any UK reactor core and an independent nuclear engineer has said this could lead to a catastrophic nuclear-fuel fire and release of radiation. Why on earth take the risk? This is putting profit before safety."