THE information given to the public about the safety of Oldbury Atomic Power Station at a recent meeting was very disturbing and should be given as much publicity as possible so that those who live in close proximity are given an opportunity to object to the continual operation of this plant.

The following points are matters of concern:

1: The power station is built on mudstone affected by tides and started sinking immediately after construction. Not only has it sunk by 18 inches but it is out of true.

2: The graphite reactor cores have suffered more corrosion than any other nuclear plant in Britain, also carbonacious deposits are worse at Oldbury. The steam pipes are very close to the reactor core, a pipe bursting at the top of the reactor could lead to the collapse of the graphite core.

3: In an accident where the graphite blocks move, the fuel is damaged stopping the reactor from shutting down and leading to fuel catching fire and a melt-down.

4: Oldbury Power Station was designed to have an operating life of 20 years but has now been running for 33 years and the nuclear fuel industry would like to keep it going for another 7-12 years.

Even without an accident all the people of Chepstow, Lydney and surrounding districts are at risk from the dangerous pollutants which are a bi-product of nuclear energy. In this country the permitted levels of pollution are 50 per cent higher than on the continent.

If there is a major accident or blow-out there are no emergency plans in place other than to evacuate those people living within two or three miles of the site. Three million people live within a radius of 35 miles – you are one of them, will you show your concern now about an atomic power station which is past its sell-by date? – Patricia M. Fleming, St Kingsmark Avenue, Chepstow.