MONDAY'S BLOCKADE

Following the blockade, Stop New Nuclear spokesperson, Andreas Speck, said "This blockade shows that people who understand the true dangers of nuclear power are prepared to use civil disobedience to get their voice heard. The government has hoodwinked the public into believing that we need nuclear power to keep the lights on. But this is totally untrue."

Angie Zelter hit out EDF’s claims that Hinkley Point is sustainable. She said: "Over its lifetime, Hinkley will consume more energy than it produces - if you take into account the energy used to extract uranium and the power needed to store radioactive waste for hundreds of years. It doesn’t add up."

Some press reports noted that the car park and toilets for the event had been provided by EDF. Members of the organising group said that they had been keen to avoid unnecessary expenditure and had asked the police to provide toilets for them as well as parking space given the narrow lanes in the area and the large number of vehicles expected. The cops had apparently dealt with this request by passing it on to EDF which had been more than happy to oblige and advertise the fact. One protester said of the toilets: "Don't worry - we pissed all over them." Only as the last person was leaving, we hope.

The blockade comes just a few weeks after an explosion at a waste processing plant in France. A French anti-nuclear camp is planned for November.

Protesters are urging ministers to look to Germany where the government has pledged to phase out nuclear power within ten years. ‘The German government has just published a blueprint for a sustainable, nuclear-free future,’ said Camilla Berens from campaign group, Kick Nuclear. The key focus is energy reduction and a bridging technology called combined heat and power (CHP). The burning question is, if Germany can do it, why can’t we?’

SATURDAY'S MARCH AND PROTEST

On 1 October, two days before the Hinkley blockade, more than 150 people converged opposite EDF Energy's regional HQ in Bridgwater before marching through the town centre. Two protesters were dressed as the grim reaper, while a choir from Wales sang songs opposing the new reactor proposed for Wylfa nuclear power station on Anglesey. At a rally in Cornhill, the crowd heard that radioactive waste from the new EPR reactors earmarked for Hinkley will be so toxic that it will have to be stored at the site for more than 100 years.

PROTEST CAMP

A Stop New Nuclear protest camp was set up from Friday near Nether Stowey, Somerset to accommodate blockaders in advance of Monday's action. Around 200 people spent the weekend there, taking part in workshops, hearing horror stories from Greenpeace France about nuclear developments there and forming affinity groups ready for Monday's action.

There was a brief incursion onto the site by a police surveillance vehicle after the blockade on Monday, contrary to the agreement between the camp organisers and the police. No surprises there, then.