27/4/2004

Petitioners concerned about emissions from a radiochemicals factory in Cardiff gained support for their case in the European Parliament during a hearing in Brussels today (Tuesday).

The petition from 'Community Concern' is based upon concerns about emissions of ionising radiation from the chemical tritium at the Maynard Centre on the outskirts of Cardiff.

The petitioners claim the Welsh Assembly minister in March issued a new license to the factory without a formal environmental impact assessment and without the recommended health study. The Cardiff petitioners believe they have been let down by the Welsh authorities and have now taken their case to Brussels to seek proper enforcement of EU law on radioactive pollution.

Plaid Cymru Euro MP, Eurig Wyn helped the campaign lodge the petition and spoke strongly in its support during the hearing in front of MEPs from a range of political parties and member states.

"I'm very glad the Commission was at least willing to listen to reason and I have called on them to refer the petition to the next meeting of the expert scientific group representing all member states that is shortly to convene,” said Mr Wynn.

He said he was surprised at the Assembly Government's decision not to undertake a proper environmental impact study on the site.

Petitioner, Alan Rosser, who spoke on behalf of Community Concern during this morning's hearing pointed out that a health survey from Imperial College London showed increased levels of congenital malformations and female leukaemia within a seven kilometre circle around the plant.

"Professor Alison Macfarlane recommended further research but the Welsh Assembly Government has decided not to undertake it.’ said Mr Rosser.

Clare Sain-ley-Berry, who also addressed the committee of MEPs, said: "Tritium discharges must be reduced as a matter of urgency. Local vegetables contain radioactive tritium at 20-100 times the natural level and fish 500-10,000 times this level. We are desperate in Cardiff to see action on this."

Concluding the hearing, the chairman of the Eurpean Parliament's Petions Committee, Roy Perry, said the Committee would convey its prelimanry view to the UK authorities that there should be a full environmental impact assesment and that the Commissioner should expedite a study on tritium levels in food.

He also said that the Committee would refer the case for further health studies to the European Parliament's STOA (Scientific and Technical Options Assessment) programme.