Updated September 2007

1. What is the fuss all about?

RWE npower have gained planning permission to infill Thrupp Lake, one of the two surviving Radley Lakes, with waste fly ash from Didcot A power station. RWE npower says that this is essential to maintain power generation. Local communities and CPRE are campaigning to preserve the lake.

2. Why do they want to do this?

RWE npower say that Didcot A cannot generate electricity on a 24 hour basis without pumping its waste ash into Radley Lakes. Campaigners say that RWE npower is simply seeking the cheapest option. A succint criticism of RWE npower's proposed action was recently given in the Independent.

3. What are the alternatives for the fly ash?

Campaigners say it should be recycled into building materials. RWE npower say there is no alternative to tipping into Thrupp Lake.

4. Why was planning permission given?

Oxfordshire County Council gave the permission, despite Radley Lakes being a County Wildlife Site. The County Council was quoted by ITV Thames Valley Today as saying that it gave permission in "fear of facing a huge compensation claim" from RWE npower. Ruth Kelly at the Department of Communities and Local Government decided not to intervene and to leave the decision to the County Council.

5. What do the wildlife people say?

BBOWT initially objected to the infilling because there was not a plan for reinstatement. When RWE npower produced a reinstatement plan, BBOWT withdrew its objection. Ecologists work onsite with RWE npower. Campaigners are angry at the ecologists' actions and point out that RWE npower is a corporate sponsor of BBOWT and provides it with substantial funding.

6. Why were injunctions served on protesters?

RWE npower told the court that its contractors were threatened. At CPRE Oxfordshire we have no knowledge of threats and have worked over two years with hundreds of peaceful protestors. The injunction is wide-ranging and everyone who protests against RWE npower's actions at Radley Lakes is covered by it. RWE npower, its lawyers and the judge that granted the injunction were initially at odds as to whether it applies to the media as well as to protestors, but the media ignored it anyway.

7. What is the Town Green application?

Local residents, led by Jo Cartmell, are seeking to have Radley Lakes declared a Town Green under the Commons Act. They say it has been used as community land for many years. The claim will be heard by a lawyer appointed by Oxfordshire County Council in April 2007. But the recommendation on town green status has been delayed and is not now expected until October. The County Council must then decide whether to accept or reject the recommendation.

8. Will Town Green status stop RWE npower?

A landowner must maintain a Town Green in a suitable condition for communities to access and enjoy. We believe that filling draining Thrupp Lake and filling it with fly ash is not compatible with that obligation.

9. What about the coots?

A pair of coots nested at Thrupp Lake earlier this summer, just doing what they have no doubt done for years. As a result, RWE npower had to stop some of its preparatory work at the lake. It has now resumed preparatory work.

10. Who will win?

There is no sign that campaigners are weakening in their resolve to preserve Thrupp Lake, despite a number of setbacks. RWE npower remains equally resolute that Didcot A cannot operate with infilling Thrupp Lake. The rejection of Town Green status for the Lakes on 16 October 2007 is a major setback for the camapign, but camapigners have said that they have not given up yet.

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Further Information

• Radley Lakes
• Save Radley Lakes