Hinkley Emergency Planning Zone

Posted: 17th March 2021

Concerns over new Hinkley nuclear plant’s potential impact on Newport. It
has been recommended that “advice be issued within 24 hours to restrict
consumption of leafy green vegetables, milk and water” across parts of
South Wales in the case of an incident. Newport is among several areas
which could see advice issued restricting consumption of vegetables, milk
and water if there is a nuclear incident at the proposed Hinkley Point C
nuclear power plant. The city is among a number of parts of South Wales
where emergency restrictions could be put in place in the case of a nuclear
incident at the new power plant in Somerset, according to a new report
released today. A new report released today Tuesday, March 16 by the
Hinkley Point C Stakeholders group has raised concerns over the potential
impact of the UK’s newest power plant on people living in Wales. You can
read the main points of the report here. The report, compiled by an expert
panel which includes academics, scientists and consultants, has raised
concerns over the impact of the development on wildlife, but there are
further implications for South Wales if there is a nuclear incident. An
off-site emergency plan for Hinkley Point published by Somerset County
Council in 2012 outlined a 3.5km area known as a Detailed Emergency
Planning Zone (DEPZ). This is an area where protective actions would need
to be taken “within a few hours” following a radiation emergency. This
includes how and where people might be evacuated in the case of an
incident. The Somerset Council plan also gave a further zone of 15 to 40 km
for food and water restrictions. This areas covers parts of the Vale of
Glamorgan, Cardiff, Newport, Caerphilly and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Wales Online 16th March 2021

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/newport-nuclear-power-station-hinkley-20181168