Some lessons of the Windscale inquiry

This article reviews the context in which British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. applied in 1977 for outline planning permission for a plant to reprocess spent uranium oxide fuel at the Windscale Works in Cumbria. It summarizes the report of Mr. Justice Parker, the inspector who was appointed to conduct a public inquiry into the proposal, and examines Parliamentary and press responses to the report. Finally, it draws certain lessons from the issue, including the need to keep options open in complex technological decisions, the need for better access to information, and the need for better procedures for evaluating proposals of this type. (author)