AWE plans get go ahead despite protest

Laura Routledge • Published 10 Feb 2012 10:30 22 Comments

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Protesters outside Calcot Centre with giant shredder and letters of objection

FURIOUS campaigners wore thick black gags and forensic suits last Thursday night in a vain bid to persuade councillors to block expansion plans at the Aldermaston atom base.

Around 40 protesters braved icy conditions outside the Calcot Centre to accuse councillors of "ignoring" their concerns over the Atomic Weapons Establishment's application to build a technology development centre - the only item on the evening's agenda.

But the proposals were unanimously approved by West Berkshire Council's eastern area planning committee - despite 195 letters of objection - and the meeting was disrupted when members of No to Atomic Weapons Development dumped three bags of shredded letters in the middle of the hall in protest at being ignored.

Peter Chan, who lives in west Reading, told officers he objected because of a lack of consultation and information about the possible risk to the public and environment, but added: "This committee has shown it is a waste of time writing in to object. Anyone who wants to object might as well place them in a shredder."

The protesters, who wore gags throughout the meeting, stood up in unison and turned their backs on councillors when the meeting gave the plans the green light. Spokeswoman Trish Whitham said: "This meeting is a pantomime, these councillors are the puppets and AWE is pulling the strings."

The technology development centre will allow scientists to develop x-ray and other diagnostic techniques for the AWE's hydrodynamics operations, which look at how materials behave under extreme levels of pressure and support the reliability and safety of Britain's nuclear weapons programme.

It will include a radiographic development hall for industrial uses, along with a support area to house laboratories, workshops, offices, plant rooms, conference and welfare facilities.

The application follows the cancellation of AWE's plans to replace its existing hydrodynamic facility - approved by West Berkshire Council last year - after Britain and France agreed future requirements for such research will be met by a new centre to be built across the Channel.

Aldermaston councillor Irene Neill told the meeting: "We have heard that this replaces permission for a much larger building and therefore the impact will be considerably less on the existing landscape and it will be much less visible. As there is no adverse planning issue, I would like to propose that we approve this."

This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 09 Feb 12

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The Captain
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Feb 9, 12:33
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Nice to see the bone idle being so productive with their time. One ponders how they are eligible for jobseekers allowance though when clearly not looking for work?

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Moon Dog
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Feb 9, 14:11
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What always ruins it for these people is how they never dress up for the event/jolly. I am sure if they made a bit of effort (perhaps a nice Burton's suit and dickie bow) people would take them more seriously. Whereas the "on the bins" attire isn't going to win anyone over...

Recommend? Yes 96 No 17
Paulo
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Feb 9, 20:46
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I wouldn't call AWE staff bone idle - they at least make the effort to leave home to turn up and collect their pay packets and sit around on their backsides drinking tea in their offices. I agree with Moon Dog about their dress sense though - industrial geek is so uncool.

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Monkey Hat
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Feb 9, 21:33
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Paulo, the above are referring to the protesters not AWE staff. Read the article and/or comments before you type eh chief?

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Arthur F
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Feb 9, 23:17
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I'm glad they are drawing our attention to whats going on at AWE - how would we know otherwise?? This kind of development is a matter of public interest and we should be consulted. And why would they be working at 6.30pm... I don't know what makes you think they haven't got jobs just because they care enough about a subject to get up and go out and say so...

Recommend? Yes 17 No 90
Len H
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Feb 10, 00:09
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I think your missing the point slightly, AWE Aldermaston are developing the next generation of nuclear weapons, breaking the spirit of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, working on a replacement for Trident when it hasn't been ageed to yet in parliament and costing the taxpayer hundreds of millions of pounds. Plus it does appear the democratic planning procedures abided to by all other planning committees in the UK are being ignored by West Berkshire as they continuously ignore hundreds of planning objections by local individuals and hide behind the excuse "we haven;t received any objections from local community groups" its quite scandalous. The committee members with their heart in the right place should stand up to the authoritarians amongst them.

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Richard M
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Feb 10, 08:14
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I'm glad to see people taking a stand for something they believe in, and taking the time off work to make their voice heard - isn't that what's democracy supposed to be all about.

The keyboard warriors above, who resort to the assumption that anyone who has an opinion is some sort of unemployed layabouts, are simply daft.

From the days of CND millions of UK citizens have opposed nuclear weapons as an illegal abomination, that have brought the world to the brink of self destruction. Whatever flawed cold war idelogy led to us building these things, has long passwed. Modern security needs include terrorism and peacekeeping.

Nuclear weapons are of little use for either of these roles, while buying boots (and armored landrovers) for the troops is a better investment.

So to conclude I think it's daft to condemn people exercising their democratic rights, and equally daft to build a new generation of nuclear weapons, when the bankinig bailout has meant that we can't afford to equip the army we've got.

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J-Roc
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Feb 10, 09:15
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Was that photo taking outside Reading jobcentre? Smirk.

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Steve
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Feb 10, 09:51
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Looks like AWE staff are not exactly overworked if Captain and Moon Dog have got time to surf the internet news sites and post sarcastic comments on stories they don't like. Naughty naughtu naughty - hasn't AWE got a company policy on using the internet for private purposes during work time?

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Spurgeon
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Feb 10, 10:10
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Monkey Hat - how about finding an online dictionary and looking up the meaning of the word 'irony'?

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Bernard S
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Feb 10, 10:14
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It is gratifying to see that there are people of conscience in this country who are prepared to do something rather than sit around moaning and generally disparaging but are actually taking part in the democratic process. There were 195 letters of objection to this application and if there were letters of support I'm sure the number would have been printed. Certainly it would have been printed if there had been more letters of support. Which points to the fact that the Councillors on the planning committee are patently ignoring the democratic process. Well done to the local citizens who braved the cold and dressed appropriately for the weather to register their objections to a facility that is linked to the extraordinarily expensive and totally unnecessary Trident nuclear weapons programme. In an age when we all have to face cuts and live with austerity, why not cut Trident and put that money to better use?

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Martin Jones
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Feb 10, 10:24
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I don't know whether any of the people on the phot were actually jobseekers, but if they were, it's gratifying to know that their Jobseekers Allowance is being paid for through taxes paid by The Captain, Moon Dog, and J-Roc. :-)

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Adam in Reading
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Feb 10, 11:26
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Steve - you jest about AWE staff not being overworked but the reality is that they have an easy life and the AWE factory is a paradise for slackers and skivers. I worked as a contractor at the AWE Burghfield construction site last spring. The full timers there have double manning for most jobs, breaks every hour, subsidised canteen etc, and best of all - every Friday afternoon off! Believe me, these guys would not last 24 hours in the real world of private industry.

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Neil Jones
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Feb 10, 13:41
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I'm concerned about this development for two main reasons. Firstly, it makes a mockery of local democracy, safety and transparency. Secondly, it could have serious implications for the UK's international diplomacy. If a country like Russia sees this as a breach of the Non-proliferation Treaty, then that could have serious consequences, making the world, including the UK, a more dangerous place. Local politicians can not be seen to support such a breach. I'm grateful to the protesters for bringing this to my attention. Where can I find out further information?

Recommend? Yes 16 No 41
Angie
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Feb 10, 15:27
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Hmm ... Friday afternoon and all the snotty comments about canpaigners have stopped. Tends to suggest that it's true that AWE staff have a soft option.

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******
Feb 10, 16:40
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MoHamEggs
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Feb 10, 16:47
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Why are the majority of them covering their faces? Something to hide, reminds of the EDL.

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Jim Stafford
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Feb 10, 20:25
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Yeah, like calling yourself MoHamEggs rather than giving your real name. What have YOU got to hide, mate?

Maybe you're trying to disguise the fact that The Captain, Moon Dog, J-Roc, and MoHamEggs are all the same person. Same style, same ISP number.

Timewaster troll - probably someone in the Ministry of Defence PR department with nothing better to do.

Recommend? Yes 9 No 42
Trish W
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Feb 13, 14:30
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Protestors were not hiding their faces but wearing gags to symbolise how their voices were not being heard by west berks council. The previous application had over 1400 letters of objection - all ignored. The fact is this is no ordinary planning matter and should not be decided by West Berkshire Council in between make decisions on domestic extensions etc. these councillors have neither the knowledge or expertise to make a decision on a Nuclear bomb factory that is breaking international law and threatening the security of the world. Its a matter of national importance and interest and should be referred to the Secretary of State.

Recommend? Yes 11 No 29
Dougie
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Feb 13, 21:04
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@The Captain: “bone idle”? I can’t speak for everyone who was present at the council planning meeting, but no-one involved in the preparation for the protest is claiming any kind of benefit. The vast majority are in full time employment. The activits involved in the preparation for the campaign gave up hours of their free time at their own expense.

@Moon Dog: Actually, there was considerable effort expended in making the campaign visible. Have a look at http://vimeo.com/35386082.

@MoHamEggs: You have clearly missed the point. The protesters have gags on not masks. Read the article properly before contributing to the discussion. The video above will emphasise that none of the activists involved are in any way ashamed to bear witness to this violation of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

Recommend? Yes 11 No 18
Billy H.
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Feb 13, 22:38
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It's very important to have the next generation of Trident defense despite the goverment's anti nuclear agenda. The Chinese and North Korea (Dear Leader lives for ever) will kill us all if they get a chance and we stop buying their bloody plastic crap!

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Dougie
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Feb 14, 00:44
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@Billy H.: What is "government anti nuclear agenda"? What motivation do the Chinese or North Korea have to launch any attack against the UK? How many foreign wars have either of those countries launched in the last 10 years?

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Martyn
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Feb 15, 11:14
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That the UK is contravening, at least in spirit, the nuclear non-proliferation treaty is clear enough.

That this leads to hypocrisy in foreign affairs is also pretty evident.

For the council to simply claim that they cannot consider ideological objections is an abdication of any moral responsibility that any democratic representation must surely entail. It is laughable that a nuclear weapon research and development application should stress sustainability and environmental consideration as points in its favour.

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******
Apr 25, 05:26
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