Quarry protestors celebrate victory


The protestors are concerned about nuclear waste

Anti-nuclear protestors are celebrating after Rolls-Royce confirmed it does not plan to dump any more low-level nuclear waste near their village.
The firm has been legally dumping the waste at Hilts Quarry in Crich in Derbyshire for decades.

Local people began a campaign to stop the dumping in 2001, and have protested at the site near Derby several times in the past year.

Rolls-Royce has announced it will take the waste produced at its Derby factory, which manufactures engines for the Trident nuclear submarines, to a site in Cumbria.

Tip trouble

David Lane from the Crich and District Environmental Group says it is good news for the village, but does not mark the end of their campaign.

"We now want the tip made safe, and made safe for our children.

"There's 37-years-worth of accumulated nuclear waste and last year Rolls-Royce told us that's equivalent to about 48 kilos of enriched uranium.

"That's going to be a problem for years."

About a dozen protestors were arrested at an earlier demonstration at the entrance to the quarry, but no one was charged.

The company has used the site for 30 years to dispose of low-level nuclear waste.

It has told the protestors its operation complied fully with all guidelines.

 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2299361.stm