CND Cymru Campaign against dumping of Hinkley mud in Severn Estuary
Posted: 13th October 2021
Annwyl Gyfaill / Dear Friend
https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/save-the-severn-estuary/
CND Cymru is supporting a coalition of groups and individuals across England and Wales to take legal action with high profile solicitors Leigh Day. The aim is to quash a licence that allows contaminated mud to be dumped in the Severn Estuary near Portishead in Somerset.
The mud is being dredged to accommodate massive intakes and outlets for the water cooling system of Électricité de France’s Hinkley Point C nuclear power station. In addition to damage from the dumping, the intakes will suck in 29,000 gallons per second, killing millions of fish and causing irreparable harm to the fragile ecology of the Severn Estuary.
In 2018 EDF used an old licence to dump more than 100,000 tonnes on Cardiff Grounds, near Cardiff. This was vigorously opposed by campaigners and the original licence (granted in 2014) lapsed before the job was complete. EDF’s English subsidiary, Nuclear New Build Generation Company (NNB GenCo), backed off applying for another licence for Cardiff. Instead they applied to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to allow dumping in English waters. This was granted in late August this year and dumping recommenced immediately. The total dump is forecast to be almost a million tonnes.
Given procedural irregularities, the lack of meaningful public consultation, and MMO’s disregard for evidence, the coalition feels that MMO have treated fishing and ecological interests with contempt. The estuary is an internationally designated Marine Protected Area and the dumped materials, which include chemical and radioactive contaminants, will spread on the strong tidal currents all around the Estuary, depositing on its mud banks and beaches. Sensitive breeding grounds and living reefs will be buried beneath sticky clays.
Campaigners argue that the type of cooling system being planned is outdated. They want to halt the dumping before further damage is done to the health of the estuary and the coastal populations of Somerset, Avonmouth, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff, Barry and beyond.
On 8th October Leigh Day, acting for the coalition, lodged an application for Judicial Review of the licence at the High Court.
The costs of this action could be in the region of £60,000. Please make a donation via the link below and spread the word far and wide.
https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/save-the-severn-estuary/
Mewn heddwch, Michael Freeman
Trysorydd ac Ysgrifennydd Aelodaeth
CND Cymru
https://www.facebook.com/cndcymru/
http://www.cndcymru.org/cy
Rydych yn derbyn y neges hon gan eich bod wedi rhoi eich cyfeiriad ebost i CND Cymru neu CND UK.
Os nad ydych chi mwyach eisiau derbyn ebyst oddi wrthym, cliciwch i ateb y neges hon a rhowch DAD-DANYSGRIFIO yn y llinell bwnc.
Ni fyddwn yn rhannu eich data ag unrhyw sefydliad neu unigolyn arall.
Yours in Peace
Michael Freeman
Treasurer and Membership Secretary
CND Cymru
https://www.facebook.com/cndcymru/
http://www.cndcymru.org/