County Council Decision may Finally Save the Radley Lakes.

1.23.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 22nd Jul 2008

A decision today by Oxfordshire County Councillors on a planning application at Sutton Courtenay means that Thrupp Lake at Radley is likely to be saved permanently from destruction. The Lake was due to be filled with ash from Didcot 'A' Power station. A new planning permission will allow Waste Recycling Group (WRG) Ltd, who operate the Sutton Courtenay Landfill Site next to the power station, to take and store up to 400,000 tonnes of surplus ash that might otherwise have been destined for Thrupp Lake.This should mean that Thrupp Lake will not now be needed for ash disposal.

Commenting on the news, active supporter of the Save Radley Lakes campaign, Evan Harris, said

"I am delighted at this development, which should finally ensure that Thrupp Lake has a long and healthy future for local people to enjoy."

"I welcome WRG Ltd and Npower working together to find a solution that protects a beautiful and important county wildlife site."

"The Save Radley Lakes campaigners also deserve great praise for their positive campaign - not simply opposing the threat to Thrupp Lake but also working constructively to find less environmentally damaging solutions to the problem of disposing of ash from Didcot power station."

Save Radley Lakes hopes that it will now be able to work with the interested parties, including Npower, over the long-term development and management of the Radley Lakes as a wildlife and community resource.