Brent and Harrow Green Party - Press Release - 6 November 1999

Green Party Candidate for London Mayor highlights nuclear dangers in North West London

Darren Johnson , the Green Party's prospective candidate for London Mayor, joined members of the Nuclear Trains Action Group and Brent Green Party on Saturday (November 6) to highlight the dangers posed by the transport of nuclear waste through Willesden Junction sidings. Campaigners handed out leaflets to local residents and a petition will be sent to the Government.

The trains transport flasks containing highly radioactive fuel rods across London from nuclear power stations in the South East to the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant in Cumbria. At Sellafield, plutonium is extracted for use in nuclear missiles. The flasks continuously give off radiation, which can be detected 1/4 mile away. In a serious accident, such as a collision or fire, radioactive particles could contaminate an area over 20 miles away. In Brent, thousands of people could die or suffer huge doses of radiation, with little or no warning or possibility of large-scale evacuation.

A year ago, British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. planned to move the shunting of these trains from Brent to Cricklewood. However, there was such an outcry from Cricklewood residents, that these plans have been indefinitely postponed, and BNFL continues to use the Brent sidings.

Greens intend to make opposition to nuclear trains a key part of their campaign for next year's Greater London Authority elections. Using the powers of the new Authority, Greens elected to the GLA will be pressing for an inquiry into the dangers posed by nuclear trains. Darren Johnson commented,

"At a time of growing concern over this issue, Londoners have a right to know about the effects of low level radiation coming from such trains and about the likely impact of a major accident on the population of London. Greens elected to the Greater London Authority will be pressing for an inquiry into this as a top priority."

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