THE Aldermaston nuclear weapon facility has been placed under enhanced inspection criteria due to fears over its ageing facilities.

Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), which runs Aldermaston and its Burghfield sister site, has been slammed by nuclear campaigners over the site’s poor performance.

David Cullen, of the Nuclear Information Service, said: “The fact that Aldermaston has been under special measures for twice as long as originally intended shows that the company running are simply not up to the job of running the site to meet the standards the regulator and the public expect.

“Plenty of money is being spent at AWE, last month Nuclear Information Service published a report which showed that £1 billion of public money is being spent at AWE every year. Instead of being spent to improve safety, this money is being spent on developing more powerful weapons of mass destruction.

“The Ministry of Defence reviewed its contract with the firm that runs Aldermaston earlier this year, but unlike other failing nuclear contractors, the current firm was allowed to remain in charge.

“The firm have been given years to improve safety standards but have failed miserably in doing so.”

The Office of Nuclear Regulation’s annual report reads: “Central to this was AWE’s continued reliance on the use of ageing production facilities, delayed delivery of safety justifications for those facilities and delays to delivery of new build projects.”

The report by the chief nuclear inspector assesses the safety of nuclear storage facilities across the country. Seven of the UK’s 37 facilities require enhanced inspections, the second lowest category.

Paul Rees, Head of Environment, Safety and Health, said: “The report recognises that, while it continues to rely on ageing facilities, AWE is undertaking periodic reviews of safety and engaging in a large and complex capital projects programme.

“The ONR has acknowledged that work to address legacy issues at one of our ageing manufacturing facilities is now ‘well advanced’ and will improve the safety of this facility.

“Activities carried out in this facility remain subject to close scrutiny and regulation by ONR and cannot be carried out without their permission.

“We aim to continuously improve on all aspects of our operations and processes as well as the quality of safety justifications and the timeliness of their delivery.”