On Wednesday 17 December
2008, RWE npower announced that they have no need of Thrupp Lake
for ash disposal at any time in the future, and would be giving
the Lake to the community, for nature conservation, through
a partnership management scheme. This could include the possible
creation of an educational and environmental centre at Sandles.
They have outlined a vision
for the whole Radley Lakes area that would create a substantial
wildlife haven and amenity areas, balancing the needs of wildlife
and local people. To this end, in May 2009, they appointed
Northmoor Trust as their preferred partner who will manage the area
on behalf of Npower. Harry Barton is the Chief Executive of
Northmoor Trust and is looking forward to the challenge.
The ash that was destined
for Thrupp Lake will now go to the WRG landfill site at Sutton
Courtenay, which is right next to the Power Station, where it
will be used sustainably for engineering purposes in connection
with landfill operations. The transportation of the ash will not
use public roads and there should be no adverse impact at
all for local residents. Surplus ash will be stored at Sutton
Courtenay for use after the power station closes, which will be
by the end of 2015. This will save the importation of around half
a million tonnes of material to the site, most probably by
road, in the future - a significant beneficial outcome for
Sutton Courtenay too.
The Town Green Judicial
Review is now withdrawn from the Court process and our legal
bills have been paid. We are in discussions
with Northmoor Trust as to how we can be of assistance in their
vision for the future of Sandles and Thrupp Lake.
They have started clearance
workon the site with assistance from local people and SRL Members.
A series of working parties are planned prior to major project
works later on.
In the meantime, Save
Radley Lakes are facing other, relatively minor, threats to the
area: a CLEUD by Tuckwells and the possibility of further
gravel extraction. Oxfordshire County Council have refused
to grant the CLEUD and further developments are awaited..
The
Earth Trust has been given planning permission for a new Wetland
Centre at Thrupp Lake. This means that in future visitors to this
beautiful nature reserve at Radley near Abingdon could benefit
from improved facilities and car parking.
The
Earth Trust will need to raise the funds for the Wetland Centre,
which will cost in the region of £750,000. Planning permission
has been agreed as long as safety improvements are made to the
access road, Thrupp Lane . The Earth Trust and Oxfordshire County
Council are working together to make the necessary improvements
to the access road at Thrupp Lane.