PROTESTERS have for the second time in a week occupied the
development site at Hinkley Point nuclear power station in Somerset, south west
England.
In the early hours of the morning anti-nuclear activists
took possession of an abandoned farm on the site which is protected under
International Environmental law.
The site contains a Site of Special Scientific interest
(SSSI) and a protected wetland site but it is due to be cleared by power
company EDF in the coming months.
Protesters are angry that permission has been given for this
work to begin before the company have won permission to build their
controversial new nuclear plant.
Somerset
born Theo Simon said "We want to reclaim this land and make sure that the wildlife
that inhabits it and forages here is protected.
"Giving permission to clear the land before Planning
Permission has even been granted clearly gives the message to EDF that
permission is a done deal. I, and many others like me, want proper public
consultation and debate before we commit to a technology whose toxic legacy
will remain for generations.”
Local media reported this week that EDF will begin site
clearance in the coming weeks, although EDF claimed the opposite when
protesters occupied the trees on Tuesday.
The first phase of the preparation works will include
removal of hedgerows and all trees, before stripping all topsoil and levelling
the landscape, all this despite the fact that planning permission has not been
granted for a new nuclear power station at the site.
Shana Deal, one of the occupiers in Langborough Farm, said
today: "If EDF's activities continue, this nature reserve will be lost
forever. Not even EDF are willing to guarantee that a new nuclear power station
will be economically viable, and I for one do not want to see this beautiful
land turned into a toxic waste dump.”
The farm premises is accessible by public footpaths and
visitors are being welcomed by the protesters.
More info at http://www.stophinkley.org
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