To John Rainford, Manager,
Didcot A Power Station
Thursday 3 May 2007

Dear John

Last week, you published an open letter in Oxfordshire newspapers presenting your case for using Thrupp Lake at Radley for dumping fly-ash from Didcot A power station.

Local residents and CPRE are strongly opposed to your actions, which are unacceptable and unnecessary in this environmentally aware age. The fly-ash that you plan to dump in Thrupp Lake is not waste but a useful by-product of burning coal. It can and should be recycled into building materials.

Thrupp and Bullfield Lake, collectively known as Radley Lakes, were excavated as gravel pits around fifty years ago. They have since naturalised into a beautiful landscape that is rich in wildlife and sheltered by mature trees. It was the felling of dozens of these trees by RWE npower that led CPRE to arrange a protest march joined by 250 local people on 17 February and to 550 people turning out on a second march two weeks later.

Local people have enjoyed Radley Lakes for decades and this is why CPRE is backing the legal case to have the area declared a Town Green. The Commons Act is complex legislation and the legal process is inevitably slow. We are very concerned that you might drain and begin dumping in Thrupp Lake before the Town Green application is decided. Such an action, although legal, would we believe outrage the majority of citizens in Oxfordshire, whatever their opinion on the merits of filling or retaining Thrupp Lake.

CPRE calls on you to guarantee to halt all work at Thrupp Lake until the Town Green case is determined.

We also ask you to take a further step. The RWE Group has in recent years begun to build a reputation for generating energy in an environmentally friendly way. We ask you to add to this reputation by recycling all Didcot fly-ash and to allow Radley Lakes to be preserved for the benefit of the communities of Abingdon and Radley. If you are able to make this decision, CPRE Oxfordshire is willing to work closely with you to secure a future for Thrupp and Bullfield Lakes.

Yours Sincerely

Andy Boddington
Campaign Manager, CPRE Oxfordshire
Punches Barn, Holton, Oxfordshire OX33 1PP

cpreoxon.org.uk. campaign@cpreoxon.org.uk. 01865 874780.

There is further information on the campaign to save Radley Lakes at:
saveradleylakes.org.uk & cpreoxon.org.uk

This advertisement has been paid for by well-wishers of Radley Lakes and is published by CPRE Oxfordshire which has been campaigning to protect Oxfordshire's countryside for 75 years. Please donate or join at cpreoxon.org.uk.