Stop the dumping of radioactive mud

I WRITE on behalf of Plaid Cymru, Cardiff North constituency. Plaid

Cymru is totally opposed to the French company EDF Energy’s application to National Resource Wales (NRW) for a licence to deposit radioactive mud on our coast, the Cardiff Grounds.

Wales Anti Nuclear Alliance (WANA) is opposed to this licence being granted for many reasons and is asking a range of questions of the NRW. These questions include:

1. Why is EDF not dumping on land they already own? Why choose the Cardiff Grounds site in the Severn Estuary for dumping this mud? Cardiff Ground was designated for dredging from harbour channels only. It was never licensed to take mud from a massive construction site, nor for the heavy clay which EDF intend to dig out during the building of Hinkley C.

It is obvious that EDF Energy’s real motive for dumping in the estuary is that the mud contains radioactive particles that if stored on land near Hinkley would have to be isolated from the environment.

2. What would be the benefit to Wales from dumping this mud which contains radioactive particles? Radioactive particles have no boundaries and would be spread into estuaries such as Rhymney and Usk. Particles would travel inland, be taken up by soil and would be inhaled.

3. What impact did the previous dumping in 2018 by EDF have on Wales? Indeed, we have no idea as there has been no data collected since that 2018 dump despite several requests. However we do know that there is an increase in radioactive particles in the mud dredged by Hinkley along the Somerset coast.

Let us see NRW taking heed of renowned scientific experts such as Professor Keith Barnham and Dr Richard Bramhall on this issue of radioactive waste.

Plaid Cymru would like to remind NRW of its stated aim of “looking after the Welsh environment for people and nature”. Let us see NRW adhering to this aim.

Let us also see Lesley Griffiths, Environment Minister in the Welsh Assembly, fulfilling her duty and not allowing this licence.

Gill Griffin, Membership Secretary, Plaid Cymru, Cardiff North