AILURE to improve safety has led to the nuclear weapons factory in Aldermaston being placed in ‘special measures’ for the fourth year running.

The Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) in Aldermaston is one of a number of Ministry of Defence (MoD) nuclear sites scheduled for enhanced attention, due to shortages of skilled personnel, ageing plants, and delays in building new facilities, according to government’s nuclear safety regulator, the Office for Nuclear Regulator (ONR).

AWE was first placed in ‘special measures’ by ONR in 2013, and at the time ONR said the site was “expected to receive enhanced regulatory attention for around two years, as we anticipate the issues to be resolved during that time”.

However, AWE plc, the company that operates the site on behalf of the MoD, has been unable to deliver the expected safety improvements, according to ONR’s annual report.

The site has been listed as a safety priority in an assessment in the report. David Cullen, of Nuclear Information Service, a not-for-profit information service which promotes information on nuclear safety, said: “The fact that Aldermaston has been under ‘special measures’ for twice as long as intended shows that the company running AWE are simply not up to the job of running the site to meet the standards the regulator and the public expect.”

Head of environment at AWE, Paul Rees, is undertaking periodic reviews of safety and engaging in a large and complex capital projects programme.

He said: “We aim to continuously improve on all aspects of our operations and processes as well as the quality of safety justifications and the timeliness of their delivery.

“Delivering safe and secure operations remains the core priority for AWE as is continuous improvement in environmental performance.”