Hi there,

As you may or may not know, Aldermaston Weapons Establishment (AWE) is the facility in Berkshire where Britain researches, builds and maintains its nuclear warheads, the real Weapons of Mass Destruction

AWE has applied to the local council for planning permission to extend it’s facilities, almost certainly to help build the new generation of nuclear warheads that can be used for pre-emptive strikes. If you marched in London because you were worried about the way that the UK and US can go bombing other countries, then this will concern you too.

Please read the info below, and visit  http://www.aldermaston.net/ to find out more, and please, if you can, make a written objection to the plans (as detailed below and at  http://www.aldermastonwpc.gn.apc.org/tng/updates1.htm ). Time is running out (objections have to be in before Friday)
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Planning Application No: 03/02313/OUT for the New Laser and Building at AWE Aldermaston

Only 5 objections were on the MoD Planning File on 27 Nov. 03.
All objections received before 28 October, when the MoD Application was made are not included in the file for Plan 03/02313/OUT to go before the Area Planning Committee on 17 December 2003.

THE CLOSING DATE FOR OBJECTIONS IS 4TH DECEMBER 2003.

TO PEOPLE WHO WROTE WITH OBJECTIONS IN PRINCIPLE BEFORE THE ACTUAL PLANNING APPLICATION WAS MADE
PLEASE WRITE AGAIN, however briefly, to say you object to Plan 03/02313/OUT & list a couple of grounds. IT IS NUMBERS THAT COUNT. If there are 200 objections I can speak at the meeting knowing that there is real evidence of objections. The Lib. Dem.Council will not want to be seen to ignore hundreds of people. PLEASE WRITE if you possibly can. If you have written since 28 Oct. you may like to ring 01635 510111 to ask if your letter has been received and is now on the file. If not, PLEASE REPEAT YOUR LETTER.
WRITE TO: Lisa Smith Planning Officer WBDC Market St Newbury RG14 5LD  planapps@westberks.gov.uk
Further details below.


Trying not to panic,
Di


Case Number: 0302313OUT

Site Address: Ministry Of Defence AWE Aldermaston Reading RG7 4PR

DOE CIRCULAR 1884 - Proposed Laser Research - Outline Planning

Concerns

The MoD planning proposal is to enable a new generation of nuclear weapons to be developed and TESTED at AWE, should the government make a decision to do so. It is not a local issue. British defence policy and nuclear weapons in particular are matters of national security. Before any preparations to build a new generation of smaller, more "usable" nuclear weapons are approved, the matter must be debated publicly and nationally in parliament. It is unreasonable for a local authority to be involved in such momentous decisions when it has neither the capacity nor the mandate to do so.

Mr. Ritchie for the MoD has said that the Council has the option to "refuse to comment" on the Notice. This would return the matter to the Minister who would then proceed by way of a public inquiry.


The full opportunity for public objections to any new developments at AWE Aldermaston must be given. The proposed timetable for such objections has been inadequate and unless the Council already intends to "refuse to comment", a more reasonable date should be set to meet the February Planning Committee meeting.


MoD Intentions
Published data on MoD intentions at AWE is to be found at:

 http://www.awe.co.uk/main_site/scientific_and_technical/publications/pdf_reports/20885-sd-plan-update.pdf. AWE Updated Site Development Strategy Plan, September 2003

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Di McDonald
Nuclear Information Service (NIS)
Westwood
30 Westwood Road
Southampton SO17 1DN
Britain
Tel/Fax: +44 (0)23 80554434
 di@nukeinfo.org.uk
 http://www.nukeinfo.org.uk