Stop Hinkley is dedicated to the decommissioning of all the nuclear reactors on the Bristol Channel and the Severn Estuary and is committed to the introduction of greener technologies more appropriate to this millennium.
The costs of nuclear power, which will be paid by us all – now and in the future – are too great to justify the profit made by a few.
Every other month we produce an informative newsletter which is sent out to all our members, keeping them up to date with relevant news and the latest information. We hold regular committee and social meetings and anyone is very welcome to attend as we are always pleased to discuss issues and comments on our campaign, though only SH members have voting rights. We also organise public meetings with speakers. (See Events).
Read some reports on past events and other activities here.
Campaigning against new nuclear
The History
See a timeline of nuclear development at Hinkley since 1957.
Stop Hinkley started life in the mid-eighties as ‘Stop Hinkley Expansion’ (SHE). As the name suggests, the goal was to ward off the government plan to build a new Pressurised Water Reactor known as Hinkley C.
SHE was central in co-ordinating the opposing groups in the 14 month long public inquiry and in particular linked with Somerset County Council who set up the Consortium of Opposing Local Authorities. Greenpeace UK funded local workers during the campaign, which ensured a high profile in the local media as well as close monitoring of the inquiry proceedings.
After Hinkley C was shelved in 1996 the name was changed to Stop Hinkley. The same year saw a successful campaign to shut down one of the nuclear incinerators at the site during which the Low Level Radiation Campaign were important advisors.
In 1999 a campaign was launched to shut the ageing Hinkley ‘A’ station. Six months later, after much media coverage, top quality public speakers like John Large (nuclear consultant) and a cancer mortality study by Chris Busby, BNFL announced the closure of the station! In a private meeting a BNFL top manager said that although they were prepared to spend a lot of money to solve the engineering problems, the station had lost its credibility through our campaign.
In 2002 the Government announced a moratorium on building new nuclear power stations – again we were key campaigners. Now, however, Hinkley C is now back on the Agenda and we will be co-ordinating with other groups to campaign vigorously against nuclear power locally and nationally as well as continuing to campaign for renewable energy and energy conservation.
Hinkley Point C silo damage, June 2020
Patrons
Raymond Briggs
Raymond Briggs, CBE is an English illustrator, cartoonist, graphic novelist and author best known for ‘When the Wind Blows’ a 1982 graphic novel that shows a nuclear attack on Britain, and his story ‘The Snowman’.
Julie Christie
Julie Christie is an actress who has received such accolades as an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. In 1997 she received the BAFTA Fellowship.
Caroline Lucas MP
Caroline Lucas has twice led the Green Party of England and Wales and has been the Member of Parliament for Brighton Pavilion since the 2010 general election.
Jonathon Porritt
Sir Jonathon Porritt is an environmentalist and writer. He frequently contributes to magazines, newspapers and books, and appears on radio and television.
Molly Scott Cato
Molly Scott Cato is a Green Party politician, academic, environmental and community activist, and green economist. She served as a Member of the European Parliament for the South West England from 2014 to 2020.
Dame Vivienne Westwood
Dame Vivienne Westwood is a fashion designer, largely responsible for bringing modern punk and new wave fashions into the mainstream, and a climate campaigner.
John Williams
John Williams, OBE is a virtuosic classical guitarist renowned for his ensemble playing as well as his interpretation and promotion of the modern classical guitar repertoire.