BRADWELL Power Station could become a dumping ground for the nation's nuclear waste, it has emerged.
A report by the National Decommissioning Authority (NDA) lists Bradwell as one of the options for storing toxic waste from other UK sites.
If approved, hundreds of 18-tonne transport containers could be brought via lorry or rail for storage in a facility of around 500 sq m, a revelation that shocked representatives at a recent meeting of the stakeholder group.
"Everybody was aghast when a representative from the NDA stated that the possibility was being looked into," said Maldon district councillor Brian Beale, a member of the Bradwell Local Community and Liaison Council.
"To say this could happen when it had always been understood that Bradwell was not intended to be a site for waste created uproar."
After operations at the station ceased in 2002, decommissioning began with an estimated end date of 2092.
It had been proposed that waste from Bradwell would be stored in a facility there. But the NDA report released in May says 40 per cent of the storage would be left empty.
It suggests around 280 "yellow boxes" of intermediate level waste could be brought from other sites to be stored until 2040, when a long-term underground deposit for all UK waste should be built.
Members of the Blackwater Against New Nuclear Group (BANNG) have criticised the proposals for nuclear storage on what they regard as a vulnerable coastal location.
"Bradwell is a wholly unacceptable site. The possibility should be resisted by a firm 'No' now," said BANNG chairman Andy Blowers.
However, environmental planning expert Professor Munir Morad, of Anglia Ruskin University in Chelmsford, said there is little risk to the community.
He said: "There is no cause for alarm as the technology with transport and storage is such that there is no danger to the public. The only tiny risk is terrorists getting the material to produce a dirty bomb, but I don't foresee that being a problem."
A working party, including representatives from Maldon District Council, is due to meet tonight (Thursday) to discuss the issue. Members of the public can comment.
An NDA spokesman said: "There will be a full evaluation of the report before a list of preferred options is drawn up with public consultation and a full planning process."
To comment on the proposals e-mail strategy@nda.gov.uk
