npower stuff swans:

Destruction by npower contractors of a swans nest and has been photographically evidenced. Today, two 'brooding swans' circulating at the site of the destroyed nest were photographed at the waters edge where the nest used to be; a 'basket of barbed wire' was in place where the nest had been, presumably to dissuade nest building.

The 'RSPB' have been advised of this illegal act.

A public meeting on Friday 23rd Feb is being held at the Hadland Road Community Centre at 7.30 pm.

Weekly meetings will also commence Sat 24th Feb until further notice in response to local concern. A message of support will be read out from Pam Ayres, the famous Oxfordshire poet. Readings of a special poem will be read, compiled by a retired headmaster of Radley Primary School. Prizes have been donated.

Save Radley Lakes

Event: 'Weekly Meet for Save the Lakes'

Venue: 'Bowyers Arms' Radley, Abingdon, OX14 3AE

Timing: Every Saturday afternoon from 3 to 5 pm, until further notice,
Commencing Sat 24th Feb 2007


We have had immediate support from Pam Ayres, our famous local poet, currently in Australia.
An official release of Pam's message will be released at the Bowyers Arms on Saturday next,
24th Feb at 4 pm.

A retired headmaster from the village has written an excellent poem in the Pam Ayres style
in support of the campaign and readings of this will be given, followed by prizes.

On Saturday 3rd March, a larger series of events will commence together with visits by invited 'leading figures', details to be announced.

Events this week are moving swiftly following the dramatic escalation by 'npower' in the last two days. Many of the largest trees have been chopped down together with major clearance of vegetation alongside the main footpath at Thrupp Lake.


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A poem written by RM (Steve) Stephens, a retired headmaster of Radley Junior School follows.


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SAVE RADLEY LAKES
(after the manner of Pam Ayres)


ThereÂ’s a beautiful lake down by Radley,
Not far from the Oxfordshire Thames,
But a cloudÂ’s hanginÂ’ over it, sadly,
Though itÂ’s one of Dame NatureÂ’s real gems.

Local people are angry and sour,
HoldinÂ’ protests and lookinÂ’ for cash,
‘Cos a company, RWE N Power
Wants to pump that nice lake full of ash.

ItÂ’s a German-owned outfit, N Power,
Makes electric from coal-fired steam,
But the stuff that it sells by the hour
Makes this ash in amounts you canÂ’t dream.

So with help from their friends in high places
They pipe it to fill up our lakes,
And set guards with masks on their faces
And get Courts to stop protests we makes.

This last lake is a beautiful treasure
For wildlife of all kinds and sorts,
Which gives all its visitors pleasure
With its peace and its nature and sports.

So weÂ’re asking for help from you readers,
To stand up and do what it takes
To get N Power to listen and heed us.
Join the action, and Save Radley Lakes!

RM Stephens. February 2007

one has to ask how the acidity in the water would be affected by the dumping of ash

and how the surrounding area would be affected by the displacement of hundreds of thousand tonnes of water, it could cause a lot of unwanted flooding

also ,if this went ahead i supose they would dump ash untill there was no lake left and you would have a marsh like area for some years untill it stabilised and plants took up root

what if children stray onto the marsh area as they so often do when things are fenced off

they would get sucked under like quicksand

that would be both horrible and an abomination

Unfortunately it is not Ash they are 'dumping' but a liquid slop called Pulverised Fuel Ash, which is pumped into the area using pipes.

Around the lake they build large bunts (mounds) and fill them with the slop. In theory to keep it enclosed. If anyone has seen the area treated like this will see what a desolate wasteland it is. Not that you see much through the fence and signs on top. So what is underneath??. They used to fill with the ash itself, transported by train, which doesn't appear so much of a wasteland. But what is actually in the PFA, chemicals added to flow better as well as the chemicals left behind after burning.

I Hope the planning Committee that makes the final decision take more trouble to inform themselves than the Councillors who voted to allow the destruction of Thrupp lake without barely reading the evidence put before them.

I hope none of those black hearted councillors are re-elected - who are they? I'm not voting for them again! What about the Greens? Do they support the lakes?

I've seen and heard many people complain about the harassment from the Shercurity security guards who are not members of the Security Industry Authority. All reports of harassment by the security and them filming and photographing people on the public footpaths at the lakes without permission should be reported to the police with dates and times when this is happening, which will make sure everything is logged and will be helpful for us.

Richard Goodlad, the council's assistant solicitor, said: "A public inquiry into the Town Green status will be led by a senior barrister, a QC who specialises in this particular area of law. He or she will recommend acceptance or rejection. The county council's planning committee will make the final decision."

Surely, if the County wishes to see fair play in this battle between ordinary local people and a brutal giant, Oxfordshire County Council should take out a high court injunction against RWE npower, ordering them to cease work at Radley and to reinstate, pending the outcome of the Public Inquiry.

Has our County Council the guts to oversee fair-play, or was the idea of fair-play outdated as soon as Innogy was taken over by a German company?