Council in the dark over nuclear trains

1:51pm Monday 2nd April 2001

THE NUCLEAR waste train inquiry rolled on when a Greater London Authority committee took written evidence from Bromley Council.

The meeting, last week, was called to clarify the exact dangers posed by a crash on the rails, and possible safety measures which should be employed.

The waste trains which carry depleted uranium through Bromley, Hither Green, and Lewisham, are being investigated in the light of recent rail accidents.

Chairman of the Nuclear Waste Trains Investigative Committee, Darren Johnson, said the purpose of the GLA meeting on March 26 was to understand the possible dangers and the issues arising from any possible accident.

He said: “An incident involving a nuclear train could be made even more serious through widespread panic because people had not been properly educated.

“Better information is needed about the emergency procedures for dealing with an incident.”

Bromley Council representatives presented a report to the committee, highlighting the lack of control of trains.

The report stated: “The council is not informed of such traffic, nor does it have any role in monitoring it.”

The Government recently reassured the borough that Railtrack, and the nuclear industry have an emergency plan in case of an accident. It said an irradiated fuel and flask emergency plan would see assistance given from the nearest nuclear establishment and specialist personnel.

The nuclear industry and regulators were accused of complacency over the risks posed by their trains.

Bromley and Beckenham CND secretary Anne Garrett said at the launch of the investigation: “We have to do something. If there is a crash involving one of these trains you've got a nuclear bomb situation. The next meeting will be on May 9.

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