January 2007

ACRONYM: Worse than Irrelevant? British Nuclear Weapons in the 21st Century

date: 
22 November, 2006

November 2006 Acronym report, pre- White Paper

 

"Worse than Irrelevant? British Nuclear Weapons in the 21st Century, by Rebecca Johnson, Nicola Butler and Stephen Pullinger, provides a detailed analysis of the options and urges the government to seize this historic chance to marginalise nuclear weapons and promote more effective strategies to strengthen the multilateral non-proliferation regime."

 

here: http://www.acronym.org.uk/uk/Worse_than_Irrelevant.pdf 

AWE Aldermaston - Modular Office Buildings: 06/02323/RESMAJ

date: 
3 November, 2006

Approval of reserved matters for planning permission 05/01646/OUT
Erection of two modular buildings for office accommodation

Kingsclere Parish Council - Review of the year 2005/06

date: 
1 January, 2007

"Further east, proposals for a massive new laser installation at AWE are likely to have some very signficant environmental effects and especially in huge numbers of vehicle movements to and from the construction site for the next ten years."
http://www.kingsclere.gov.uk

Stratfield Mortimer Parish Council - Minutes: 06/02326/FULMAJ new office accommodation, November 2006

date: 
9 November, 2006

Unadopted minutes
This is a major development and the provision of 1500 vehicle spaces gives some measure of the expected increase in trafffic movement, mainly on unclassified roads. AWE should look to providing public/coach transport as in the past and not rely upon private cars. The weak commitment to encouraging car sharing is insufficient. A robust traffic reduction programme must be augmented.
http://www.stratfield-mortimer.gov.uk/parish_council_meetings/minutes/index.htm

West Berks - Local Plan 1991 - 2006

date: 
1 June, 2002

The Local Plan sets out the Council's proposals for the development and use of land within its area for the plan period up to 2006. Whilst proposals for development are expected to be mainly completed within the plan period the policies will operate up to and beyond this period if still relevant.

1.2 GENERAL APPROACH

1.2.1 The Local Plan is part of the statutory Development Plan, the other parts being the Berkshire Structure Plan and the Berkshire Minerals and Waste Local Plans. The Local Plan must conform generally with the Structure Plan and has been written to complement its approach to development and land use issues.

1.2.2 An Environmental Appraisal has been prepared which examines the environmental implications of the local plan policies.

1.2.3 The Local Plan policies have focused on the interpretation of Structure Plan policies and the Government's Planning Policy and Guidance Notes (PPGs) and in formulating policies which have a positive impact on the control of development. The general objectives of each chapter of the Local Plan are expressed as key aims.

1.2.4 It must be stressed that the Local Plan does not stand alone as a guide for the future development of West Berkshire. It must be read alongside the Structure Plan and PPGs.

West Berks - Eastern Area Planning Committee: 06/02326/COMIND proposed new office accommodation, January 2007

date: 
22 January, 2007

Proposed new office accommodation (circa 21,000m2) plus associated landscaping including water features. Car park for circa 1,500 vehicles plus associated landscaping and access. Construction related infrastructure including access road, car parking, reception building, gate house, facilities management building, wheel washing facilities, use of land for construction compound, fencing gates and ancillary facilities.
http://www.westberks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4208 

BASIC - Paper on nuclear deterrence, July 2006

date: 
20 July, 2006

Nuclear Deterrence: a tried and tested defence strategy or an elaborate belief system masquerading as scientific theory?
Nigel Chamberlain
Tony Blair has turned a potential six year opportunity to discuss whether or not to replace the Trident nuclear weapon system into a six month rubber-stamping exercise glazed with a veneer of parliamentary accountability without a hint of the promised open debate.
http://www.basicint.org/pubs/Notes/BN060720.htm

BASIC - Trident: Do we really need to make the decision now?, July 2006

date: 
24 July, 2006

Paul Ingram
Summary
The current rush to decide on Trident replacement is unnecessary, reduces military flexibility and interoperability with the United States, further undermines the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and stymies an open debate. It also entails commitment to spending when the public finances are likely to come under increasing pressure. There are technical reasons for believing the life expectancy of the existing submarines could be greater than currently estimated, and that the replacement costs could be reduced by avoiding a full replacement programme.

The recent Defence Committee Report called for a full and properly informed debate. It also highlighted that a final decision need not be taken before 2014, provided any delay was for a purpose. This briefing supports that conclusion, while making the case that the 2014 deadline is a conservative estimate and that a longer delay is possible. We also suggest that the purpose of the delay should be:

  • To have a proper debate informed by a Green Paper;
  • To maximise military flexibility with regard to future uncertain threats, and to avoid premature redundancy of follow-on systems caused by the UK being out-of-step in its procurement timelines with the United States, upon whom we rely for the missile systems; and
  • To enable the UK Government to mount a high-profile UK leadership initiative in the international arena to strengthen the NPT and move towards multilateral disarmament (much as the UK has led on climate change and Make Poverty History).
    http://www.basicint.org/pubs/SB060725.htm

Shundahai Network - Aldermaston Blockades Continue, April 2006

date: 
7 April, 2006

On Monday 10 April, nonviolent direct action group Block the Builders will return to AWE Aldermaston and attempt to prevent construction traffic entering Britain's WMD factory. In what is becoming a regular monthly event, campaigners are making good on their promise to "block the builders" working on the controversial Orion laser facility and - over the coming years - on other facilities which will enable the design and build of nuclear weapons.
http://www.shundahai.org/4-7-06Indy_Aldermaston_Blockades_Continue.htm