Or just pragmatic?
What do you do if you live within 3 miles of a Nuclear Power Station that was built in the 1950s and then another is built beside it in the 1980's and now another is planned?
A lot of people object strongly, so far without it having any effect but I think the majority of the people who live in the small Suffolk town of Leiston are used to the idea and resigned and they shrug shoulders and say 'it pays many peoples wages'. Once you've lived in the area for over 20 years, like we did, you tend to forget about it.
Anyway, the Archaeology company doing all the pre-build exploratory digging there are currently paying YD's wages.(she's not digging but running their on-site admin) so I have to be pragmatic.
I went over to visit YD and EGD on Sunday and discovered Cotswold/Oxford Archaeology had a exhibition going on of all their finds so far. I popped in to have a look as did dozens of other people, it was really busy. The finds from the site cover almost all of history.
I couldn't take many photos but managed a few between all the folk looking. Sorry they aren't in proper order.
I'm not sure why they had a repro of the Sutton-Hoo helmet!
The most special find, the hoard of 300 silver coins from the 11th century, wasn't on display - much too unique but the guy who was the lucky bloke to find it was there.
More about the coin find HERE
There is a constant reminder of the dangers of living close to Nuclear Power Stations because since 2013 everyone who lives in Leiston has a pack of anti radiation tablets to hand!
They didn't give us any - we were a couple of miles further away, although if anything did happen there it wouldn't just be the people in the surrounding area who would be wiped out!
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Sue
I remember going to a church event in Sizewell in the 70s. Someone had a petition for us to sign opposing the proposed nudist beach. I said where was the one about the proposed nuclear power station? I felt that would have more impact on the beautiful coastline than a few naked old men...I was told of for being an arrogant teenager.
ReplyDeleteThe nudist beach never happened - at least as far as I know!
DeleteWe were all issued with radiation tablets and detailed instructions when we lived in the flats on Barrow Island, which is a couple of hundred yards from the BAE shipyard, formerly Vickers. It made me quite worried as a new Mum to my second son. ☹️
ReplyDeleteWhen we first moved nearby it worried me for a while but then it becomes just a thing that's there.
DeleteI grew up in the shadow of Hinkley Point, two power stations side by side, my mum always said if the sh*t hits the fan it would be all over quickly, much the way as your locals think. The power stations did provide well paid jobs for our family and others and our village thrived. They are building the 3rd station now as the first two are being decommissioned.
ReplyDeleteSizewell's new power station is a double - so 3 and 4 although as yet there isn't all the money to build it. The first stopped working many years ago - 2 still has years more to run
DeleteWell not to be to pessimistic, Chernobyl animals and flora are doing quite well and adapting to the radiation. The archaeological event looks interesting as well.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised at how many people were looking at the display. It was interesting to see what they'd found.
DeleteI live just outside the radiation zone of a nuclear power plant. As if that weren't enough, they built a liquid gas pipeline facility not far from it. So if anything were to happen to either of them, I don't think anti-radiation pills or being a bit outside the zone will make much difference to the end result.
ReplyDeleteA quick end I think - but best not to think!
DeleteI admire your pragmatism.
ReplyDeleteThe other side would be constant fear.
DeleteThat reminded me of that wonderful show, The Detecterists!
ReplyDeleteThat looks like a wonderful exhibit!
Amazing what can be found under the ground from previous centuries
DeleteThat is a wonderful educational display on power plants.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to think the power plants carry lots of safety rules and requirements.
Hopefully the technology is advanced making safety the priority.
I am aware of two US power plants. Plymouth, MA and Seabrook, NH are the locations. Over the years, there have been concerns about: Nuclear waste being dumped into the ocean, potential for accidental spills, and evacuation routes. Lately, things seem ok and I am not aware of any issues. As technology improves, safety is also improved.
The display was about the archaeological finds on the site of the new power station
DeleteThat's so interesting!
ReplyDeleteHave to love archaeology with a son who's an archaeologist !
DeleteNever heard of anti-radiation tablets before.
ReplyDeleteHow nice that the archaeology finds are shared for the community to see. Must check out that link about the coins.
The tablets are just in case of a radiation leak from the power stations
DeleteI enjoyed reading about the excavation finds/history uncovered. What a lucky find of silver coins… does the finder get to keep them? Cali
ReplyDeleteNo. They will be Treasure Trove and ownership will be passed to the Crown
DeleteI read about the man who found the hoard of coins. Can you imagine such a thing? But the fact that you can find all these items so readily, and in such abundance is mindboggling to me. I would be walking around with a shovel and a metal detector all the live long day!
ReplyDeleteIf only it were that simple! many rules and regulations re metal detecting
DeleteReally?? That's interesting. There's no rules here that I am aware of.
DeleteWhat wonderful finds. Any finds here do not go back that far.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
What a nice exhibit! Not sure I'd like to live somewhere where you are given anti-radiation tablets lol
ReplyDeleteI remember when we lived at Knodishall, a tiny bit closer to Sizewell than you, they said if the sirens went we should go to Saxmundham. We couldn't decide whether we would not bother at all, or just keep driving.
ReplyDeleteYou definitely forgot about it, and it was a lovely place to live.
My Mum grew up in Leiston and used to play on Sizewell beach before any of the power stations were built. There used to be big sand dunes that you could slide down on a tray, which sounds fun!
ReplyDeleteMy Grandad used to live in Leiston so we were there a lot visiting him and the power station was something we didn’t really think about. I used to go paddling in the sea on Sizewell beach in the 80s. I can remember Sizewell B being built as a child, strange to think it’s getting towards the end of its use now. I never knew about the radiation tablets for local residents.
The exhibition sounds interesting.