BBC report:

Council approves plans for atomic research facility
 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-11435606

More detailed report from Adrian Windisch of Reading Green Party, who attended last night's planning meeting:

AWE Project Hydrus Planning Decision
 http://greenreading.blogspot.com/2010/09/awe-project-hydrus-planning-decision.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

There will be no public inquiry into this or any of the other applications related to the ongoing development programme at the (now two-thirds US-owned) Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) sites at Aldermaston and nearby Burghfield, which AWE has stated is on the scale of Heathrow Terminal 5, and which is intended to enable the development of a new generation of nuclear warheads. Over £1bn a year (or £3 million a day) of public money is currently being spent on AWE, with no public consultation or parliamentary debate or approval, and barely any public scrutiny.

AWE is currently 'celebrating' 60 years of making nuclear bombs in Berkshire:
 http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2079162_bomb_factory_celebrates_60_years_at_aldermaston

The Orion laser, an integral part of the new developments at AWE Aldermaston, is said to be due for a royal unveiling later this year.

Might this be the time to step up the direct action at Aldermaston, and against Trident and its planned £97bn replacement in general?

The Devonport Big Blockade, organised by Trident Ploughshares, will take place in Plymouth on Monday 1 November 2010:

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/09/463911.html
 http://www.tridentploughshares.org/article1608

See also the following Indymedia UK feature about actions at AWE Aldermaston earlier this month:

Resistance to "Factory of Death" continues
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/09/458456.html