Summary of Hinkleys EDF Demo Today

Summary:


About twenty five campaigners took part in a demonstration outside the EdF offices in King Square Bridgwater this morning for about an hour and a half. Demonstrators wore white 'nuclear' overalls and gags over their mouths with one protestor wearing a gas-mask. Media presence was excellent.



Media coverage:

BBC Points West News interviewed several campaigners as well as Crispin Aubrey, the event coordinator. They asked tough questions but campaigners gave well informed responses on the issue over losing our voices in the new streamlined planning process. They interviewed the Chief Executive of Sedgemoor District Council against the background of the demo. Sedgemoor have until recently been very chummy with EdF in their plans to build Hinkley C. But yesterday they gave EdF a rough ride in their meeting discussing their response to the DECC nuclear consultation calling amongst other things, for a Health Assessment of the area due to local concerns (Stop Hinkley) raised about health effects of radioactive discharges.



ITV West also interviewed Crispin as well as the Western Daily Press and Western Morning News who sent a joint photographer.

The Bridgwater Mercury / somerset County Gazette also interviewed and photographed the demonstrators.

A freelance photographer with access to the national press also took pics.



Police:

Bridgwater police had phoned Stop Hinkley on four occasions before the demo, asking for details about the demo and having been told that protestors would be wearing 'hoods and masks'. We explained that the gags were symbolic of losing our local voice in the new planning system. EdF had given the police the phone number of a Stop Hinkley committee member and asked him to go to the police station to discuss the demo on Tuesday.

Today about seven police were in attendance and took photographs of the campaigners. They asked Crispin Aubrey to come to the police station afterwards but he declined, saying he needed to follow up the protest and suggesting they phone him later.



A fuller press report will be issued later today.



Many thanks to all who took part.



Bristol:

A short demonstration is planned for 1.30pm on Tuesday 19th at Bristol City Council. A motion on whether to object to plans for new nuclear at Hinkley and Oldbury is due to be debated by the Council.

Please email if you plan to go along.



Jim Duffy

Stop Hinkley