A new 10million plan to reduce radioactive dumping in South Wales by up to 80 per cent has failed to impress local protestors.

Amersham plc representatives were jeered and listeners walked out in disgust during a public consultation meeting in Beulah Hall, Cardiff, last night as the company outlined its proposal. The plan named “Project Paragon,” was formulated to ensure medical research company Amersham plc meet the requirements necessary to renew its production license, expected in March.

Amersham, who supply medical research materials to the pharmaceutical industry, plan to reduce their gaseous discharges by up to 50 per cent and their liquid discharges by up to 80 per cent when the plan becomes operatonal in four years time. The meeting was organised by the Environment Agency in conjunction with protest group Community Concern, Amersham and Bro Taf Health Authority to discuss the environmental impact of the plant.

Dr Mark Temple, a consultant for Bro Taf, said: “I am of the opinion that this pollution has had no significant effect on the people of Cardiff. Our study has found that there are no excess levels in reported cases of congenital malformations, cancer or infant mortality, except in the more deprived areas of Cardiff, and Down’s Syndrome levels are sparse.”

Miss Gill Griffin, of Community Concern, said: “This project is already three years behind schedule and it is not even in the design stage so we need to know a little bit more about it before we can take heart. Community Concern has taken advice from other independent scientists because there is more than one possible interpretation of the figures they have given us.

“They tell us there is no research on what is a “safe” dose of tritium. How can we accept what Amersham and the Environment Agency say when they tell us everything it is not dangerous?”

“Cardiff is the only capital city in Europe with a nuclear site so near the centre,” said another resident. “We will not be happy until the emissions are cut to zero.”

Community Concern was formed in 1997 to represent local people after 400 drums of the radioactive isotope tritium was transported to Cardiff from Amersham’s site at Harwell, Oxfordshire, to be dumped. The next consultation meeting will be held on Feb 12 at Whitchurch High School, Cardiff.