Calls for Wrexham Minister to "take a lead" and withdraw license for radioactive mud dump off the Welsh coast

Minister for the Environment and Rural Affairs Leslie Griffiths is facing growing calls to withdraw a license which will allow hundreds of thousands of tonnes of radioactive mud to be dumped off the Welsh coast. 

The mud, which would be brought from England when the new Hinkley Point nuclear power station is built and dumped off the Cardiff coast, is causing growing concern from experts and politicians alike. 

Plaid Cymru Wrexham spokesperson Carrie Harper said: "Experts are warning that communities along the Welsh coast could be exposed to doses of marine radio activity if this radioactive mud dump goes ahead. If that's not a good enough reason to immediately withdraw this license pending further investigation into the dangers, I don't know what is. I'd respectfully urge the Minister Leslie Griffiths to take a lead on this."

"In Wrexham, we have already experienced what it's like to be failed by Welsh Labour Minsters and used as a dumping ground. We are reminded every summer by the putrid smell of Hafod Quarry in Johnstown, which is used to dump rubbish from Merseyside despite huge local protests. One of her predecessors Carwyn Jones,  Environment Minster at the time, refused to step in and help us then. I hope the current Minister does not continue the tradition of failing Welsh communities on such a key health and environmental issue."

The license allowing the dumping of 300,000 tonnes of polluted mud off the Welsh coast was agreed in 2013, with French firm EDF energy undertaking the project.

A petition calling for the Welsh Government to direct Natural Resources Wales to suspend the license can be signed by clicking  HERE