Flooding at Mersea Island the morning after the Great Tide. (Photograph courtesy of Brian Jay) Andy Blowers asks what might happen at Bradwell if the East coast floods again as in 1953 in the BANNG Column for Regional Life July 2019. ‘It was now that wind and sea in concert leaped forward to their triumph’ … [Continue Reading]
Chernobyl – it could not happen here – could it?
In his column in the Regional Life magazine for June Andrew Blowers asks what might happen if a major nuclear accident happened at Bradwell? The ultimate disaster It is now a third of a century since the world’s greatest nuclear disaster occurred at around midnight on April 26, 1986. Chernobyl is both the symbol and … [Continue Reading]
Let the Sun take the Strain…
Dave Elliott, Emeritus Professor of Technology Policy at the Open University, argues that renewables, not nuclear power, are the way forward for energy as our guest writer for the BANNG Column for Regional Life, May 2019 The Sun newspaper recently ran an article claiming that ‘Britain will face power cuts unless the Government steps up … [Continue Reading]
Look what might be coming our way soon…
Andy Blowers ponders the Sizewell C development and what may eventually befall Bradwell in the BANNG Column for Regional Life, April, 2019 ‘The evening has come, and the tide still rises. Soon it will be over the saltings. The breeze is strengthening. Night and wind and tide are moving in together. A primrose sky has … [Continue Reading]
Is Bradwell B a risk to national security?
Andy Blowers considers whether the ‘golden relationship’ with China might be a Trojan Horse in the BANNG Column for Regional Life March 2019. The state visit of the Chinese President Xi Jinping, in October 2015 proclaimed the beginning of a ‘golden era’ in Sino-British relations. The deal was sealed with the promise that China would … [Continue Reading]
Is the Bradwell project doomed to fail?
As the government’s nuclear programme falls apart and as rising seas threaten nuclear plants, Andy Blowers asks the question in the February 2019 edition of Regional Life magazine Over the past few months there have been two global developments which may, sooner or later, determine the fate of the new nuclear power station at Bradwell. … [Continue Reading]
Decommissioning – Who is Kidding Who?
Amid all the hype surrounding the closure of the former Bradwell nuclear power station, Peter Banks reminds us of past problems, present concerns and future uncertainties surrounding the plant. BANNG Column for Regional Life – January 2019 ‘Safe and Quiescent’ Bradwell A ceased generating power in 2002 and, after more than 15 years decommissioning, has … [Continue Reading]
New Nuclear: A Waste of Time and No Time to Waste!
Andy Blowers, Chair of BANNG, ponders the long time-scales of the Bradwell project in the December 2018 column for Regional Life Have you ever thought that nuclear energy and new nuclear power stations in particular are a waste of time? By this I mean that they take so long to build, so long in operation … [Continue Reading]
Bradwell B – an unsuitable site for development?
Andy Blowers, Chair of BANNG, considers some of the key issues facing the proposal to build a new nuclear power station on the Bradwell site BANNG Column for Regional Life, November, 2018 BANNG’s visit to the Bradwell B site (reported on in the October edition) gave an opportunity to discuss the early site assessment undertaken … [Continue Reading]
Is Bradwell B going down the drain?
BANNG Column for Regional Life, October, 2018 – By Varrie Blowers, Secretary of BANNG BANNG has long maintained that there is no need for a new nuclear power station at Bradwell. The costs, in terms of the long-lasting, physical damage to the tranquil and vulnerable Blackwater estuary, of the finances, of the potential for terrorist attacks … [Continue Reading]