The Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston near Reading is where nuclear bombs are designed and where the fissile material is made. It is then transported to AWE Burghfield (7 miles away), where the fissile material is put in the warheads ready for transport by roads in the convoy lorries to Coulport.
AWE Aldermaston is government-owned, contractor operated. The contractors are BNFL, Serco, and the US arms manufacturer Lockheed Martin. It's a big site, 6 miles of perimeter and NO LOCHS. Some parts are radioactive.
GETTING IN: The outer fence is chain-link (good hand-holds and foot-holds, wear trainers not boots) topped with 3 strands of barb. Run across the "sterile area" to reach the "superfence": 15ft of weld-mesh, topped with razor, and similar to the fences we know and hate up here. The delightful difference is that the T-line alarms are on the OUTside, providing a handy ladder. Tight leggings recommended, or you'll get stuck in the razor. If care is taken to avoid damage to the T-line, the MoD have in the past simply ejected protestors from the premises without arrest.
However, as the Ploughshares camp began fill up, the rules changed. Climbers were warned that if they trespassed again within 3 months they would be arrested. Despite this, on the evening of May 19th, four groups simultaneously set out to "open" the camp (and the fence!).
Ulla, Roger, and Joan were arrested for "criminal" damage to the fence. Others climbed in and were caught in the sterile area. Hoossie and Marjan got up the superfence, despite the former's broken and sprained wrists (incurred minutes earlier falling off the outer fence!). Fungus got over the superfence and was collared in a radioactive area.
Monday brought the challenge of blockading SIX gates. The police wanted us to go and stand in a car park away from the road. Guess what? We had other ideas. Using the "goldfish bowl" method, (if you want to know what this is, come to the next camp!) we split into groups for each gate. Tripods were glorious, tubes worked well, and broken-wrist lock-ons were also effective.
The sad part was that the police used violence on some of us, eg pressure points and quick-cuff-twisting. This was repeated when a blockade of AWE Burghfield was attempted the next day. But this did not detract from the joy of successfully shutting down the base and raising awareness amongst workers and locals about the illegality of Trident.
A WORD OF WARNING: The Burghfield blockade was foiled by cops using listening devices, either bugs in vehicles or via mobile phones (even when not in use).
Meanwhile... get to know Aldermaston better by visiting the brilliant ALDERMASTON WOMEN'S CAMP, (men also welcome during daylight) held on the second weekend of every month outside Falcon Gate of AWE's perimeter. Phone 0117 939 3746 for more info.