Dockyard shut by anti-nuke activists

They were protesting at the role the site plays in maintaining Trident nuclear submarines.

Up to 150 people from England, Wales, Scotland and Switzerland peacefully occupied parts of the Devonport Dockyard from 6am - preventing traffic from entering and leaving for three hours.

Eleven of the activists - some of whom had locked themselves together - were arrested by Ministry of Defence police who patrol nuclear establishments across Britain.

Devon and Cornwall Police told the Morning Star that most of the arrests were on suspicion of aggravated trespass.

The Trident Ploughshares, CND and Green Party activists, among others, made it clear that they were "anti-Trident, not anti-dockyard."

Pointing to a recent CND report which found that investment in more labour-intensive areas was being diverted into the £75 billion Trident replacement programme, Trident Ploughshares Plymouth branch, known as "the Tamarians," stressed that "Trident costs more jobs than it creates."

Tamarians spokesman John Robb said around 400 jobs at Devonport were associated with Trident out of the total 4,000 to 5,000 jobs there.

Considering the variety of engineering skills among dockyard workers, he added: "The money on Trident would be far better spent investing in renewable technology.

"Instead of maintaining nuclear submarines, they could be making blades for wind turbines or be pioneers in tidal technology."

Not only was Trident bad for jobs, but the radioactive substances it requires were highly dangerous for the 250,000 people living in Plymouth, he said.

Some activists also landed on the nearby Drake's Island where they occupied a building and hung a large "scrap Trident" banner.

The island is home to derelict military barracks, Napoleonic era buildings and a Ministry of Defence Radio mast.

The activists declared the island a "nuclear-free zone."

CND chairman Dave Webb said the action had been "very successful.

"The atmosphere was very good and there was a lot of appreciation from passing motorists who hooted in support," he said.

"We have achieved partly what we wanted, which was to raise the profile of the issue. For years we've been arguing for greener, safer jobs and jobs that are not putting the whole city at risk."

lizziecocker@peoples-press.com