Greenpeace volunteers from Camden and other networks, along with CND, the Nuclear Information Service, and other anti nuclear groups, got hot under the collar on a cold night to show demonstrable opposition to the planning application by the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) to build a new technology development centre in Aldermaston, near Reading.
AWE’s centre will form part of a new joint UK-French treaty, Teutates, to collaborate on nuclear warhead technology, running for 50 years from 2015. An earlier planning application by AWE for a new hydrodynamics research facility, approved in 2010, was later withdrawn as the work will be shifted to France. Hydrodynamics research can be used to assess the performance and safety of warheads without conducting nuclear testing, effectively side-stepping the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).
Approximately 40 protesters wearing gags representing their ignored voices or dressed as AWE scientists waited outside the local planning committee meeting on 8 February 2012 while the councillors arrived, before joining the session.
The committee chairman, who was visibly agitated by the protestors, stated that he had not received any formal objections from local groups, and although he acknowledged 195 letters of representation, they were identical to letters already received and the views had already been considered and taken into account. Many of these letters were due to an awareness campaign in Reading to enlighten the general public about the work that AWE does in their back yard.
Peter Chan, from Greenpeace, spoke to the committee against the planning application, and also acknowledged that "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." Enter several large clear bags of shredded paper, placed in front of the committee.
The council brushed off any “ideological” objections to the planning application, saying there was no legal or technical basis to reject the application, and voted unanimously in favour. Though the outcome was anticipated, the manner was particularly disappointing, and the protesters collectively stood up and turned their backs to the committee to show their disapproval.
Britain and France are effectively continuing to develop and test nuclear weapons despite having signed and ratified the CTBT. We will continue to ensure that this is neither unnoticed nor unopposed.
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