Dear Sir/Madam,
Advertised “Trident Ploughshares 2000 Disarmament Camp at AWE Aldermaston 18-25 May 2000”
We understand from your Internet web-site information that you are organising a protest at AWE Aldermaston from 18-25 May 2000.
I am writing to inform you that AWE Aldermaston and AWE Burghfield are nuclear licensed sites pursuant to the Nuclear Installations Act 1965. As Licensee, AWE plc has a legal duty to safeguard all operations at these sites and a duty of care to ensure the safety and security of its employees, visitors and other persons who are lawfully working at AWE. In addition, the Company is responsible for ensuring that its management of and operations at AWE do not adversely affect the environment.
We recognise the right to lawful protest and we welcome the statement on your Internet site which stresses the peaceful intention of your protest. However, you will understand that we have a concern that any unauthorised entry to our sites would by-pass our extensive precautionary procedures which are designated to ensure the safety of staff, members of the public and the environment. We therefore trust, in the spirit of your stated peaceful intentions, that there will be no tresspass on our sites.
You should be aware, however, that AWE plc will necessarily hold your organisation, its officers and members, entirely responsible for ensuring that all activities associated with the event described as “Trident Ploughshares 2000 Disarmament Camp at AWE Aldermaston” take place in accordance with the law and that in particular, they do not damage, disrupt, interfere with, upset or compromise activities carried on and managed by AWE plc, its employees, sub-contractors, other persons working at or lawful visitors to AWE.
Further, AWE plc will hold your organsiation, its officers and members responsible for any loss (including consequential loss) and any injury to persons or damage (howsoever arising) to the property of AWE employees, employees of other organisations working at AWE, or lawful visitors to AWE; which are caused by, arise from, or are connected with, the said event.
AWE plc will also hold your organisation, its officers and members responsible for any activities, events or incidents which compromise the safety, security or integrity of materials, processes or facilities (including the proper management of same) at AWE consequent upon, as a result of, or arising from, the event known as “Trident Ploughshares 2000 Disarmement Camp at AWE Aldermaston.”
Yours faithfully,
David West
Head of Legal Services [at AWE Aldermaston]