19 January 2006 - Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott must hold a full public inquiry into plans for a massive extension to the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) at Aldermaston, a Euro-MP has demanded.

“The plans for a new and upgraded nuclear weapons factory threaten local democracy, international law and world peace” said Caroline Lucas, Green Party MEP for South-East England.

’Planned Aldermaston extension be stopped’

The proposals, for a ‘laser facility’ and associated buildings to test the next generation of nuclear weapons, will be discussed by planners at West Berkshire District Council (WBDC) next week.

Dr Lucas has written to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, urging him to ‘call in’ the proposals and hold a public inquiry. She said an inquiry was justified for several reasons, including:

- The high number of public objections received by West Berkshire District Council

- The scale of the plans, which constitute a ‘major project’ of regional and national importance

- The need for a separate prior debate on whether to upgrade the current Trident nuclear arsenal at all

- The potential illegality of the plans under international law: specifically the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the 1996 ruling of the International Court that nuclear weapons are unlawful

- To conform to EU rules on the Environmental Impact Assessment of major developments

WBDC’s planning committee had been due to discuss the proposals at a meeting last November, but a decision was put off until next Wednesday, January 25th.

Dr Lucas, who is a member of the European Parliament’s Environment Committee, co-president of its cross-party peace initiatives group and a member of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament’s National Council, has written to WBDC arguing the proposed new facility is out of keeping with other buildings in the area, would pose a public health risk and should therefore be subject to public consultation – and that it would increase traffic by nearly ten per cent for 30 months.

“The planned facility poses a major environmental and health risk, yet no proper assessment of its impact on local people has been carried out,” she said.

“This is in breach of both EU and UK law and is itself reason enough for West Berkshire planners to oppose the facility.”

The MEP also told planners she was concerned at evidence of work already starting on the laser facility’s construction before receiving planning permission.

Dr Lucas added: “To start work on new facility at Britain’s nuclear weapons factory before local people have had their say on the proposals is a shameful abuse of local democracy and misuse of public money.

“The proposals breach not only local and EU planning rules, they fly in the face of international law – and common sense - regarding nuclear weapons. The UK cannot hope to persuade states such as Iran and North Korea to abandon their nuclear ambitions whilst we continue to invest in our own nuclear weapons capacity.”

Dr Lucas is determined to halt work at Aldermaston by any lawful means. If her plea to John Prescott and local planners falls on deaf ears, she has pledged to ‘block the builders’ - by lying down in front of them, if necessary.

“I have been arrested before for obstructing nuclear weapons – and I’m not afraid of being arrested again, blocking the builders at Aldermaston if need be.

“The real crime, and one which we hope to prevent, is the proliferation of nuclear weapons of mass destruction.”

ENDS