Windscale - power versus pollution

Protests from British environmental groups, scientists, politicians and private citizens has forced the Government to postpone a decision on plans to create the world's largest nuclear fuel oxide reprocessing complex at Windscale, on the north-west coast of England. Subjects considered here are the vast increase in the the quantity of lethal nuclear waste stored at Windscale, the risk of explosion or plant malfunction causing radioactive fall-out, the increased radioactive discharge into the Irish Sea and into the atmosphere and the danger of terrorism or sabotage. It is stated that critics of the Windscale project have yet to be convinced that the nuclear power industry is as risk-free as its proponents maintain in public statements. To satisfy the great anxieties shared by a large number of people about the expansion plan, a full public inquiry is essential. (U.K.)