arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

Secret plan for N-bomb factory

Berkshire plant will build weapons for use on terrorists, say experts

Mark Townsend
Sunday June 16, 2002
The Observer

A massive nuclear bomb-making factory is being planned for Aldermaston, raising concern that Britain is heading towards a new era of atomic weapon production.
The plant will be able to test, design and build a new generation of nuclear bombs. Arms experts believe it will focus on smaller atomic warheads for use against terrorist groups and rogue states.

Details to be submitted to West Berkshire planning authorities in the next 10 days reveal plans for one of the most state-of-the-art nuclear weapons plants in Europe.

Described by environmentalists as one of the most momentous decisions of Tony Blair's leadership, the plant will cost hundreds of millions of pounds, despite being officially approved without parliamentary debate, sparking fury among MPs.

Analysts warn that it appears to be a blatant breach of Britain's obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. William Peden, nuclear disarmament expert at Greenpeace, said: 'We are talking a massive nuclear bomb-making factory.'

The plans - the existence of which were confirmed by the Atomic Weapons Establishment - will involve closure of the 270-acre Burghfield site, where Britain's atomic warheads have been produced for almost 50 years. It will be replaced by a futuristic complex capable of designing atomic weapons as well as storing existing Trident warheads at AWE's 700-acre headquarters.

Details of the proposals were discovered in AWE's annual report, which refers to plans to 'transfer all operations' from Burghfield to the Aldermaston site.