Every year six convoys, each of about 10 vehicles, carry loads of nuclear warheads and explosives some 400 miles by public roads from the atomic weapons establishment in Berkshire to Faslane and Coulport. We learn from a Ministry of Defence freedom-of-information release that there have been 50 "engineering incidents" and 17 "operational accidents" to convoy vehicles on Scottish roads in the past seven years.
As a west of Scotland resident, I would be interested to know the precise route followed by these secret convoys in the middle of the night. They don't have many options. Do they come up the M74 and M73 and round the northern stretch of the M8? If so, do they then head west along Great Western Road or via the Clydeside Expressway to Anniesland and the Boulevard, or do they cross the Kingston Bridge, drive past the airport and re-cross the Clyde by the Erskine Bridge? Or perhaps they quietly sneak up along lesser A roads to avoid being spotted?
Whatever route they take, these convoys must pass through or very close to some densely populated areas. No doubt the authorities will claim that there is minimal or no danger to the public, but how can they guarantee this? Sixty-seven accidents or incidents in seven years does not inspire great confidence.
Is there any reason why these nuclear warheads could not be taken the relatively short distance to Southampton or Portsmouth and then shipped up to the Clyde? Would that not be much less of a risk to built-up areas? Or even better, why not just close down Faslane and Coulport and set up these nuclear bases somewhere on the south coast of England? I'm sure the local residents down there would welcome the extra jobs and boost to the local economy, wouldn't they?
Iain A D Mann, 7 Kelvin Court, Glasgow.
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