Model Letter for Councils on Nuclear Convoy Routes in England

Letters might best be sent to the Emergency Planning Officer (or Resilience Team in some areas), the Council Leader, the Chief Executive and the councillor responsible for Emergency Planning. You should be able to find contact details on your council’s website.

Address

Date

Dear                      

Nuclear Warhead Convoys
Nuclear warheads are regularly transported in large convoys on public roads to and from the atomic weapon factories at Aldermaston and Burghfield near Reading, and RNAD Coulport on Loch Long in Scotland, where the weapons are stored and loaded on Trident submarines. Since they carry nuclear materials along with high explosive the existence of this unique traffic poses serious questions about public safety.
These convoys pass through this local authority area and in the event of an accident it is the council along with other first responders who would have to look after public safety. 
The MOD issue Local Authority and Emergency Services Information. The latest edition can be seen here.   https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/634162/20170627-LAESI-Ed_11.pdf
The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 requires emergency responders in England and Wales to co-operate in maintaining a public Community Risk Register. These are approved and published by Local Resilience Forums, which include representatives from local emergency responders as well as public, private and voluntary organisations. Each local council should publish its Community Risk Register on its website.
As a local resident I wish to express my concern about these convoys on our roads and ask the following questions. 
Questions
1.	Has the Council conducted any assessment of the risks to council residents associated with the transport of nuclear weapons convoys?
2.	If an assessment has been conducted how recent was this?
3.	If an assessment has been conducted was this done independently or jointly with another member or other members of the Local Resilience Forum?
4.	Has the Council communicated with its public in regard to the risks associated with the transport of nuclear weapon convoys?
5.	What specific changes to its policies and procedures has the Council made in response to the outcomes of the most recent and geographically relevant MoD exercise in accident response?
We look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely