CONTROVERISAL plans to store more nuclear waste at Bradwell Power Station have been branded “outrageous” by a campaign group.

Magnox has applied to Essex County Council to remove a planning condition barring it from storing waste removed from other power plants at Bradwell.

The “intermediate level waste” typically consists of sludge, sand, gravel and metal that was used as part of the operation of the power station.

Magnox has said the move would save UK taxpayers £30 million.

The waste would eventually be moved to a Geological Disposal Facility, when it is built

Blackwater Against New Nuclear Group fear the move could increase risks to human health and the environment.

Chairman Professor Andy Blowers said: “Bradwell has been singled out to perform the function of a regional nuclear waste dump.

‘This is clearly all about money and not about the risks to communities around the Blackwater.

“I cannot see any possible justification for Essex County Council changing its position.

“BANNG is urging the council to maintain the condition preventing the importation of waste.

“To do otherwise would indicate that this county is a soft touch, willing to accommodate nuclear new build and all the dangerous paraphernalia that goes with it.

“This is not something we should willingly wish on future generations who will bear the risk and costs for decades to come – perhaps indefinitely.”

Last week Burnham Town Council gave its support to the plans describing it as a “perfectly sound strategy”.

Magnox, which met with members of the community this week, said that safety and security of sites and transport operations were the company’s highest priorities.

A spokesman for Magnox said: “During the process of retrieving and packaging waste over the past three years, it has become apparent that there is less waste at Bradwell than originally anticipated.

“In addition Bradwell has been able to carefully segregate the waste into different categories, which has diverted more waste to other disposal routes and reduced the quantity of ILW that needs to be packaged and stored on the site. Bradwell is not a disposal site.

“The detailed dose impact associated with transporting and storing the imported wastes packages will be rigorously assessed. Magnox is confident that this will demonstrate that there is no significant change because the original safety case was based on the store being full.”

The plans for Bradwell form part of a UK-wide strategy, endorsed by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, would make the best use of available and proposed assets and would contribute to saving around £200 million for the taxpayer when compared with previous plans.