CELTIC LEAGUE: DEFENCE SECRETARY PRESSED ON NUCLEAR DUSTBIN PLAN
The Celtic League General Secretary has written to the UK Defence Minister to express concern and seek clarification of plans to scrap nuclear submarines at Devonport (see below):
«Minister John Hutton Secretary of State for Defence Ministry of Defence Main Building Whitehall London
22/04/09
Dear Minister John Hutton
Devonport – nuclear submarine graveyard?
I am writing to enquire if the unconfirmed news reports this week from the BBC that Devonport navy base in Plymouth is due to become the UK's submarine depository and »nuclear dustbin« for decommissioned nuclear submarines, are correct.
We are aware that the base has in the past and is still currently being used to decommission and dispose of nuclear submarines and their reactors. However reports that the base has been earmarked for the routine management and decommissioning of nuclear submarines, is of great concern for the Celtic League.
We do of course realise what the complex and costly process that the decommissioning of submarines involves and the potential risks to the environment and population from leaks and explosions. The fact that the Devonport base lies within a city of a quarter of a million people and that nuclear submarines could soon be frequently and routinely decommissioned only several hundred meters from the nearest houses and schools, seems to us to be a shocking disregard for the general public's welfare.
We are aware that Plymouth residents, as part of the MoD's own consultation exercise on the ISOLUS Project (Interim Storage of Laid Up Submarines), overwhelmingly rejected the option of the navy base managing and storing nuclear submarine waste at Devonport. If the MoD were now to consider using Devonport again as a base for the purposes mentioned above, would Plymouth residents and specifically those on the Cornish side of the boarder be consulted?
If it is jobs that need to be secured at Devonport, surely it would be better to diversify the use of the engineering skills of its workers rather than using the base as a nuclear submarine decommissioning plant, considering that the base is located within a city of high population density? The government's 'Maritime Change Programme' would suggest that even after almost 50 years since the first nuclear submarine was launched, the governments solution for dealing with the nuclear waste produced by decommissioned submarines is to move them around, rather than attempt to tackle the problem in a sustainable and environmental way.
In consideration that the navy bases at Rosyth and the HMNB Clyde in Scotland will also possibly be affected by the nuclear submarine move, it shows that the latest developments indicate that the British government and MoD still see the Celtic countries or areas immediately adjacent to them as suitable sites for dangerous waste.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely
Rhisiart Tal-e-bot General Secretary Celtic League
CC David Walley Leader, Cornwall Council»
Related article on Celtic News at:
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
22/04/09
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