Home   News   Article

The Government has been asked to decide the fate of a park café given the go ahead in a nuclear emergency zone.

Burghfield residents want the secretary of state to intervene and the council will have 21 days to wait for a decision after it approved the proposal for the café, going against officers’ recommendation to refuse it.

More than 100 objections were been received by the council – with dozens more supporting it.

Planning officers said the structure of the building would not sustain enough protection in the event of an incident at nearby nuclear bomb factory AWE, and therefore failed on emergency planning grounds.

But that was rejected by last night’s (Wednesday) eastern area planning committee, meaning the Office for Nuclear Responsibility will also have to have a say on the plan.

The 24-seat café’s single toilet was discussed as to whether it would be adequate provision should Aldermaston have an emergency, forcing coffee drinkers into a 48-hour lockdown.

Ross Mackinnon (Con, Bradfield) said a well-meaning regulation appeared to strangle community wishes.

“The lack of protection afforded by a temporary structure is better than nothing at all with all the dog walkers and so on at that site," he said.

“We can accommodate football and beer festivals there so maybe the ONR has got it wrong. I’m leaning towards the benefits to the community over what appears to be a minimal risk.

“Twenty-four people using a toilet in a nuclear emergency might be unpleasant but I’m sure there will be other priorities in a situation like that.”

Graham Bridgman (Con, Burghfield and Mortimer) said: “The emergency zone is based on a circle but at 3.16km this site falls outside the circle.

“We have Burghfest with a couple of thousand people on that site with no shelter at all.

“This needs proper consideration and is only for 24 covers who could be accommodated in an emergency.”

Chairman of Burghfield Parish Council Tim Ansell argued against the AWE restriction, saying the number of people using the common would not change.

“The impact of numbers would be minimal,” he said. “In the event of an emergency, people would have access to shelter and running water.”

He cited a residents survey which consistently pointed to a need for a café.

But objectors said anti-social behaviour and parking would be an issue, further claiming the application was a ‘Trojan horse’ masking plans for a pub on the site.

“The location is not suitable and puts residents at risk. Dogs will have to be tied up outside. This is next to the play area. Children might get bitten. There might also be dog theft,” said Steph Awbery for the objectors.

“There is no need for this now most people have returned to work.

"Why not run café services out of the newly refurbished village hall?”

But they were accused of scaremongering by resident Kailee Godding, who spoke up in support of the scheme.

“I was really pleased to see this application go in. The café would be a valuable addition to our community. The location is ideal as families can get there easily.

“We have been asked numerous times what we want. The council are trying to meet the needs of the majority. We read every year that any event from AWE is extremely unlikely.”

Architects also gave evidence claiming that the café design would be as resistant as a new house would be to fall out.

“It’s a robust piece of modern construction,” they said, confirming that the five-year permission sought was a viability test for a permanent café.

Carolyn Richardson from the emergency planning team said the DEPZ (emergency planning zone) is set by the regulator and is within the circle set by the Office for Nuclear Responsibility.

“Twenty-seven agencies look at the planning application, not just West Berkshire Council,” she said.