Deep concerns have been expressed over the future safety of radioactive waste stored at Bradwell power station.

A report by the Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate claims that storage at the plant, owned and operated by British Nuclear Fuels Limited, and at others across the country, does not meet modern safety standards.

Calling for the end to 'temporary' waste stores - raw intermediate level waste such as sludges and components at Bradwell is currently stored in silos, vaults, tanks and drums - the report demands that plans be drawn up for permanent stores to be built within 10 years of Bradwell ending its lifetime.

The plant is expected to cease operations in 2002.

The watchdog organisations warns that although the waste situation is currently generally well controlled there is 'a considerable legacy from the past.'

"Many of the older facilities that have been used to store intermediate level radioactive waste do not meet modern standards."

The report follows a Government decision not to approve further research work for a deep burial site in Cumbria.

A spokesman for the NII said: "We are expressing our concerns for future storage of nuclear waste at these sites."

"Now radioactive waste will have to stay in provisional storage for decades ahead. This really isn't good enough over that period of time.

"Plans must be made now for the improvement of waste storage."

The report has been welcomed by local anti-nuclear campaigners.

Val Mainwood of the Shut Down Bradwell campaign said: "This is what we've been saying for a long time.

"We believe that waste management in this country is a state of absolute chaos and this report vindicates us. At last this NII report is pointing the way forward.

"We have had 40 years of making do, what we need now is a proper system of waste management.

"The general public has had enough of the nuclear industry's tinkering. Bradwell has got to be shut down and a way of dismantling it worked out.

"Local people are getting very nervous we are still talking about 1950s technology at work here.

"There are vast problems at Bradwell, it is a dire situation. We just hope that this report gives the Government the confidence to bite the bullet of nuclear waste at last."

Robin Thornton for Bradwell Power Station said that his company welcomed the report and had been in discussion with the NII about the possibility of a deep burial nuclear repository.

"There is no way that we at Bradwell would allow unsafe practices to take place. Intermediate level waste has always been stored safely here, there is nothing new about that.

"Safety is the number one priority here. We are fully aware of the issues that the NII has flagged up and we will do whatever it takes to keep Bradwell safe."

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