11th October 2007 updated 24th October 2007

Oldbury accident could mean Gloucester would be effected within 3 and a half hours - local authorities will be incapable of dealing with situation

Photo: Audience listening to John Large and Ian Fairlie

Update 24th Oct: John Large's slide presentation delivered in Stroud is now available to download from the web site via the 'Papers/Reports' via http://www.largeassociates.com/PapersReports.htm

At a public meeting last night at the Old Town Hall in Stroud over 70 people turned up to hear two nationally renowned nuclear experts: Dr Ian Fairlie, a consultant on radiation gave evidence as to why nuclear is not the answer to climate change or energy needs while top nuclear scientist John Large gave a detailed look at the problems with Oldbury's graphite core and showed how an accident there could be comparable to Chernobyl.

For a more detailed write up see Philip Booth's blog on 10th Oct 2007 at:

http://ruscombegreen.blogspot.com

Photo: Dr Ian Fairlie

Cllr Sarah Lunnon, a Green Party District councillor who chaired the meeting said: "Ian Fairlie showed how nuclear would only make up 4 to 5% of our overall energy, that it would take 10 to 15 years to start producing, fails to provide energy security and costs double wind power according to the Government's own figures. The evidence is overwhelming from many sources that nuclear is not the way to go and is not an answer for tackling climate change."

Sarah Lunnon said: "John Large's presentation gave a detailed and entertaining description of how nuclear power works at Oldbury and why there are serious concerns. The reactors were designed for 20 to 25 years and are still running over 10 years past that date despite a whole host of identified problems. Indeed we have seen repeated closures and as John Large noted running Oldbury now 'maybe taking a risk too far'."

Photo: John Large

In a detailed talk John Large showed why he and others considered there were risks. He also gave a detailed description as to why an accident at Oldbury could be comparable to Chernobyl. He concluded: "Potentially an accident at Oldbury would have the same outcome as Chernobyl."

John Large used computer modelling programmes for the 3rd October 2007 as an example to show how an accident at Oldbury would mean that Gloucester could be affected within 3 and a half hours and Birmingham within 7 hours - sooner on a windy day. His analysis shows that over half a million people would need to be evacuated with deaths from the accident numbering 57 and over 3,000 in the following years. Iodine tablets would be needed in the first day at Sharpness area while an area up to 40km from Oldbury would also require tablets to help prevent cancers.

Sarah Lunnon said: "It was worrying to learn that the computer programmes can take three days to show how an accident will progress. This is not good enough when in the event of an accident nuclear experts will be concentrating on the incident and evacuation plans, iodine tablet distribution and more should start immediately. How will local authorities be able to act when they wont have the information they need?"

Dave Cockcroft, a Green party Stroud Town councillor said: "After hearing this detailed techincal analysis is seems that the risks of continuing to run Oldbury are quite excessive given the relatively small amount of electricity generated. It will be a relief when it's finally closed down and it would be much better to close it immediately."

Sarah Lunnon said: "Last night showed how we need to invest in safer and cheaper renewables and micro generation that provide real energy security."