Killer Nuclear waste in Birmingham?
Nov 9 2010 by Paul Suart, Birmingham Mail
A BIRMINGHAM MP has called for an investigation after a train suspected of carrying nuclear waste secretly passed through the city.
Selly Oak Labour MP Steve McCabe made the call after Dave Harte, a lecturer at Birmingham City University and Editor of the Bournville Village blog, claims to have seen a “distinctive” carriage which he is convinced was holding nuclear waste material pass through Bournville station.
Greenpeace has claimed that 350,000 people would need to be evacuated if a nuclear waste train derailed or was targeted by terrorists and that 8,000 people could die from the long-term effects of radiation.
Senior Greenpeace campaigner Ben Ayliffe said the waste was most likely to be spent fuel extracted from nuclear reactor sites and described.
He added: “It’s called spent fuel.
“It’s the most radioactive material on the planet.
“It could have been going from any one of the reactor sites in the south of England.
“It would definitely have been going to Sellafield in Cumbria which stores all radioactive waste in the UK.
“Even a very small leak would have catastrophic consequences.”
Selly Oak MP Steve McCabe says there should be a full inquiry should proof emerge that the locomotive was transporting toxic waste through a residential area.
He said: “I’m not aware there’s been any changes of policy to entitle them (the Government) to route trains like that through residential areas like Bournville.
