The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

Capenhurst LSG meeting updated on decommissioning developments

09 July 2008

As well as the regular Local Stakeholder Group meetings, Capenhurst also hosts an annual public meeting. David Challen, Chairman of the LSG said the latest public meeting was held in May and had been an enjoyable and successful event.

Mr Challen told the LSG members at their meeting in June that they needed to look at ways to improve the attendance levels at future public meetings.

He said he and Mike Baily had attended the National Stakeholder Group meeting and found it very beneficial too. They particularly found the new Strategy Management System workshops useful as they covered Uranic Materials which is of particular interest to Capenhurst amongst the topics.

“We put across strongly the point of characterisation in the Waste Stream Workshop. We also put forward the idea of the railhead for the Capenhurst site and were very pleased that it was enthusiastically received. We should not have lorries on the country lanes around the site when we have the railway so close to the site,” he said.

NDA Site Programme Manager, David Rushton, praised the site’s safety record of 1,030 days since the last lost time accident. He updated the meeting on changes at the NDA Board including the arrival of the new Chairman, Stephen Henwood and new Commercial Director, John Clarke and the announcement regarding the departure of Chief Executive Dr Ian Roxburgh.

Head of Site, Phil Malem, told the meeting the site was looking at its future potential and has produced what it called the “Capenhurst Vision” which it will discuss with the NDA. “We will meet the decommissioning end date next year and are looking at ways in which we can go forward after that time,” he said.

The number of people employed at the site is expected to halve next year from the current 150.

Mike Baily who is in charge of Quality, Environment, Health and Safety at the site said they were pleased once again to have been awarded the gold medal standard by RoSPA.

David Daniels from the NII told the meeting there had been a tangible improvement in waste disposals from the site as well as good progress on dealing with Hex Tails.

Steve Fisher from the Environment Agency told the meeting that compared to other sites of a similar age; the Capenhurst site had very little contaminated land. He also explained about a streamlining of the agency’s systems which would lead to better regulation. He said the streamlined and combined Waste Management Licensing and Pollution Prevention Control would not lead to a drop in standards.

David Challen thanked LSG secretary Linda Dougherty who is moving to a new role and wished her the best for the future. He welcomed her replacement Hayleigh Soper.