A nuclear war head convoy is due to arrive in Scotland on Friday 11th July. On it way from AWE Burghfield near Reading to Faslane navel base.
A nuclear war head convoy is due to arrive in Scotland on Friday 11th July.
The convoy carrying nuclear warheads left the AWE Burghfield near Reading, Berkshire, this morning and has travelled up to RAF Wittering where it will park up over night. Tomorrow (Thursday) it is expected to travel up to Albermarle barracks, on Hadrian's Wall near Newcastle, where it will park up in the high security compound inside the base before leaving for Coulport the following morning.
The last convoy travelled up to Coulport via the A1 and on the by-pass around Edinburgh after protestors had publicised it would come up the A74(!) We're pretty confident it will go through Stirling however because the roadworks on the Kingston Bridge stop it going through Glasgow on the M8.
The convoy will be carrying Trident nuclear warheads for the submarines based at Faslane. Although there is isn't a risk of a nuclear explosion in the event of an accident, a serious accident could lead to the high explosive contained in the warhead detonating and scattering the highly radioactive and toxic plutonium dust over a wide area just like a so called 'dirty-bomb'. Breathing in a minute speck of plutonium, which has a half-life of 24,000 years, can lead to a 50:50 chance of lung cancer. Each warhead contains several kg of plutonium. There is no reliable way of cleaning up after such an accident.
The convoys travel on the busiest roads in Scotland and close to the most built up areas and thousands could be affected in the event of an accident.
Protestors from the NukeWatch network will be out tracking the convoy as well as holding roadside protests as it passes. Last time there were protests in Stirling and in Balloch with protestors dressed as weapons inspectors.
We're trying to organise transport leaving Partick underground at midday on Friday to take people to a roadside protest. More details phone Scottish CND: 0141 423 1222 or Nukewatch on 01436 679194 or Faslane Peace Camp on 01436 820901.
The convoy carrying nuclear warheads left the AWE Burghfield near Reading, Berkshire, this morning and has travelled up to RAF Wittering where it will park up over night. Tomorrow (Thursday) it is expected to travel up to Albermarle barracks, on Hadrian's Wall near Newcastle, where it will park up in the high security compound inside the base before leaving for Coulport the following morning.
The last convoy travelled up to Coulport via the A1 and on the by-pass around Edinburgh after protestors had publicised it would come up the A74(!) We're pretty confident it will go through Stirling however because the roadworks on the Kingston Bridge stop it going through Glasgow on the M8.
The convoy will be carrying Trident nuclear warheads for the submarines based at Faslane. Although there is isn't a risk of a nuclear explosion in the event of an accident, a serious accident could lead to the high explosive contained in the warhead detonating and scattering the highly radioactive and toxic plutonium dust over a wide area just like a so called 'dirty-bomb'. Breathing in a minute speck of plutonium, which has a half-life of 24,000 years, can lead to a 50:50 chance of lung cancer. Each warhead contains several kg of plutonium. There is no reliable way of cleaning up after such an accident.
The convoys travel on the busiest roads in Scotland and close to the most built up areas and thousands could be affected in the event of an accident.
Protestors from the NukeWatch network will be out tracking the convoy as well as holding roadside protests as it passes. Last time there were protests in Stirling and in Balloch with protestors dressed as weapons inspectors.
We're trying to organise transport leaving Partick underground at midday on Friday to take people to a roadside protest. More details phone Scottish CND: 0141 423 1222 or Nukewatch on 01436 679194 or Faslane Peace Camp on 01436 820901.
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Report on Convoy
11.07.2003 23:41
This meant we had no idea which route the convoy would use (either the A1 or the M74 routes) so we decided to head to Stirling - the earliest point where the convoy had to follow the one route. About a dozen of us managed to get there, half expecting it to be a wild goose chase. After about an hour of waiting the arrival of a minibus of cops confirmed that the convoy was coming and it wasn't long before we could see the lead vehicles.
A quick roadside protest was held before we jumped into our vehicles to give chase. The convoy parked up for about twenty minutes in a lay-by just beyond Stirling giving us the chance to join protestors waiting in Balloch.
There, despite a heavy police presence, both in Balloch and at junctions along the road from Stirling to Balloch, one man did bring the convoy to a momentary halt by walking out in front of the lead warhead carrier and then walking very slowly down the road.
The convoy - containing only three warhead carriers - is expected to leave Coulport on Sunday morning at the earliest. (Maybe Monday.) Stirling CND and Stirling Coalition for Justice Not War people will be out to protest if it leaves Sunday morning.
And who knows there might be protests and actions elsewhere.
Phone me on 077514 77628 if you want details of where to meet folk.
Phill
Phill
e-mail:
phill.jones@banthebomb.org
Homepage:
http://www.banthebomb.org