Nuclear weapons pose a risk to proposed new homes

Plans for nearly 500 homes just outside a village could be jeopardised by nuclear weapons, a council has been warned. The Atomic

Weapons Establishment (AWE), the only company in Britain that produces nuclear warheads, has opposed plans for the development

near Spencers Wood in Berkshire, telling Wokingham Borough Council that if something went wrong at its site in nearby Burghfield, the

residents would live in an area exposed to a “radiation emergency.” The plans also include a primary school and green space.

‘Safety concerns’

Plans for as many as 475 dwellings were submitted in May by development consultants Pegasus Group.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) states that although the submission is not a formal planning application, it aims to

ascertain whether a development would have an impact on the environment.

However, AWE stated in a letter to the council that there were “significant” safety problems with the plans.

It stated that the planned location was inside its Detailed Emergency Planning Zone (DEPZ), which is between Basingstoke Lane and

Sussex Lane.

In order to respond to a nuclear emergency at Burghfield, the nearby West Berkshire Council needs to have a thorough plan in place.

Although there is extremely little probability of a radiation emergency at AWE B, the potential impact on the nearby population would be

significant, according to AWE. Therefore, it is acceptable and reasonable to avoid new development within the DEPZ whenever possible.

It further stated that in the event of an emergency, the additional population in the region would also make it more difficult for emergency

services to assist current residents.

The emergency planning manager for Wokingham Borough Council stated that if developers Richborough filed for planning permission,

he would probably reject the plans.

The recent development, he claimed, would have a “detrimental impact” on its emergency strategy to assist residents of the DEPZ.

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