I’d happily live on top of nuclear waste, says expert
A FORMER nuclear power station manager says he would be happy for radioactive waste to be buried under his own home.
The frank statement, made by exWylfa engineering manager John Idris Jones, shocked an anti-nuclear campaigner but won support from Greg Evans, boss of the proposed new station on Anglesey, Wylfa Newydd.
Dr Jones, who lives in Llansadwrn, around 20 miles from the planned £10bn reactor at Cemaes, told the wife of PAWB (People against Wylfa B) campaigner Dr Carl Clowes OBE he had no problem with waste being stored on the island, at an exhibition in Newborough, last year.
The comments come as the Welsh Government revealed villages and towns in north Wales could be offered millions of pounds to allow nuclear waste to be stored there.
Dr Clowes, from Pentraeth, told the Daily Post: “My wife asked Dr Jones: ‘What about the radioactive waste?’ He replied: ‘I would be totally happy to have it buried under my own home’.”
He was then stunned to find Wylfa Newydd boss, Mr Evans, agreed with Dr Jones. Mr Evans, in a letter to Dr Clowes said: “Dr Jones would have made this comment on an informed basis. I would agree with him without any hesitation.
Dr Jones maintained he would be happy for it to be stored under his house: “Reason would not allow it to happen, but from a technical point of view I don’t see a problem if it was properly planned.”
He did, however, criticise Dr Clowes for going public on a private conversation: “What has upset me is that I had a private conversation with Dr Clowes and it is repugnant and hurtful that he has gone in an underhand way to mention the conversation to other parties.
“He has a bee in his bonnet about nuclear matters. By saying things like this he is making people angry.”
But Dr Clowes accused both men of being “irresponsible”.
He said: “They are pre-empting a formal consultation (on Wylfa Newydd). There are all kinds of implications.
“This proposal (Wylfa Newydd) is going ahead on the basis of a huge amount of investment and would be detrimental to the health of the community.”