PLANS for the storage of intermediate level waste to increase at Bradwell-on-Sea have been given recommendation by Burnham Town Council.

The application made by Magnox, who manage the safe running of 12 UK nuclear sites, requests from Essex County Council that a condition be removed from their existing planning application which will allow other packages of nuclear waste from a site in Suffolk and Kent to be stored at Bradwell.

Intermediate level waste refers to used nuclear fuel left after it has spent about several years in the reactor generating heat for electricity.

Because of modern volume reduction techniques reducing the amount of waste packages produced at Bradwell and other sites, Magnox state more can now be stored in Bradwell, which they estimate will save UK taxpayers £30 million.

The waste does not remain in Bradwell forever, as all collected waste from the three sites in question will be moved to a Geological Disposal Facility for final disposal when available.

A representative of Magnox said: "This plan has been developed following years of dialogue with specialists and several workshops and community events.

"These proposals do not compromise any safety or environmental standards."

The plan proposed by Magnox was discussed at the Burnham Town Council meeting on April 13, where councillors generally agreed that the proposal was deemed a safe and secure strategy.

Councillor Bob Calver, of Burnham South Ward, said: "When you lay this plan out, it all seems like a perfectly sound strategy for the company to save the taxpayer £30 million without the huge environmental repercussions.

"The common stigma seems to be if a plan deals with nuclear waste it is automatically deemed as dangerous, but this plan certainly isn't."

Magnox have submitted their application to Essex County Council and are awaiting their response.