If you live in Spencers Wood, Three Mile Cross and Grazeley please look out for an important communication coming from West Berkshire Council about the emergency planning zone around AWE Burghfield within West Berkshire Council’s boundary.
Although there has been no change in activities at AWE Burghfield, legislation has required a review of the emergency planning for this site and, as a result of the review, the emergency plan for the facility must now cover a larger area.
This extended area - known as the Detailed Emergency Planning Zone (DEPZ) - now covers some homes and businesses in Spencers Wood, Three Mile Cross and Grazeley not previously included.
West Berkshire is responsible for this emergency plan (in collaboration with partners) and for notifying residents about it, including those living in the Wokingham Borough. This is why it is sending an information booklet to all households and businesses.
“This is an odd situation because there’s been no change in the actual risk of an incident at AWE Burghfield – that remains incredibly low – nor has there been any change in what AWE Burghfield does,” said Cllr Parry Batth, executive member for environment and leisure.
“But there now has to be an emergency plan in place for a bigger area meaning some of our residents are in this DEPZ for the first time.
“It’s West Berkshire’s responsibility to produce the plan and, most importantly, to make sure all residents living in the DEPZ know about it and have the information they need to understand there’s been no change in the risk. But, given the way Covid-19 is overwhelming lives at the moment, we want to make doubly sure our residents are aware of this important message.
“So, if you live in the new zone, please keep an eye out for West Berkshire’s booklet and please be assured this is only a change in the emergency planning for what remains an extremely unlikely event.”
Full details on the DEPZ can be found on West Berkshire’s website or see the news release and leaflet on AWE's site.
