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Radley Lakes inquiry restarts
2:15pm Wednesday 20th June 2007
Comments (3)Campaigners were today given a fresh say in their bid to save Radley lakes from being transformed into an ash dump for Didcot Power Station.
The public inquiry was reopened following an adjournment in April. It is looking at whether the area should be granted town or village green status.
Save Radley Lakes members, who want to conserve Thrupp and Bullfield lakes, were at the meeting at Radley College.
RWE npower - owners of Didcot Power Station - want to use Thrupp Lake to dump spent fuel ash from the coal-fired station at Didcot. The smaller Bullfield Lake is not included in the company's plan.
The inquiry lasted four days in April but was not completed because of the number of witnesses produced by Save Radley Lakes. Another eight witnesses were listed for today.
John Dunleavy, formerly of Abingdon but now living in Chipping Norton, explained how he and his family were regular visitors to the lakes over many years.
He said: "I found solace and comfort there. Radley Lakes was my favourite area for walking and bird watching."
RWE opposes the application as do two other landowners and their evidence is expected to be heard tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday.
There are two evening sessions, tonight (Wednesday) and tomorrow.
Oxfordshire County Council has already granted permission for the lakes to be used as a dump for ash.
The company's case is that it needs to use Thrupp Lake if the power station is to meet its commitment for electricity generation. It is unable to reprocess all the ash.
RWE has said that since 1982, four former gravel pits have been restored and have achieved county wildlife status. It plans to return Thrupp Lake to wildlife.
Your Say YourOxford Mail
alison prewett, abingdon says...
9:25pm Thu 21 Jun 07
These are our lakes. How dare Oxon County Council, supposed guardians of our environment, allow this destruction to happen ?
Laker, Abingdon says...
10:22pm Thu 21 Jun 07
The four 'so called' restored lakes are securely fenced off on private land and some areas quake when you walk on them! and I have walked there on many occasions.
Will it ever be safe to remove those fences?
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Peter Harbour, Abingdon says...
8:36pm Thu 21 Jun 07
I used to believe that the Herald and Mail presented a balanced view on the Radley Lakes situation, but to sum up a day on which only evidence in support of the application has been presented shows an undue leaning towards the spin and power of RWE npower. This is not an isolated case and I feel bound to comment on this bias, which is to be condemned.
The application under consideration is about a legal application for a town green. It is not about RWE npower's case that they have no option and the power station might shut down. If you want to write that, you should also write that their arguments are strongly opposed. Stick to the Town Green story, please.