High court challenge to stop toxic French ship arriving in Britain A High Court challenge has been launched to stop a French aircraft carrier being broken up in Britain after it was deemed too toxic to be taken apart in India.
By Sarah Knapton
Last Updated: 5:24PM BST 03 Sep 2008
The 27,000 tonne Clemenceau, which contains 700 tonnes of asbestos, is set to be dismantled by Able UK in Hartlepool after the company was granted a licence by the Health and Safety Executive.
But Jean Kennedy, of the Friends of Hartlepool group, is taking legal action against the HSE to prevent the ageing aircraft carrier being brought to British shores.
"The HSE have made a special exception to allow this toxic ghost ship and its deadly cargo into our local community," she said.
"We feel that it is a deep injustice to force a small town, which has already disproportionately suffered the ill-effects of polluting industries and has one of the highest cancer rates in the UK, to accept France's toxic waste."
Clemenceau, often affectionately called "le Clem'", was the lead ship of her class, and the 8th aircraft carrier of the French Navy, serving from 1961 to 1997.
The ship was due to be broken up in India but an embarrassed Jacques Chirac was forced to recall the ship after socialist opposition in France accused the president of sending waste abroad while "lecturing the world on the environment."
But the French finally struck a deal with Able UK earlier this year to the anger of local residents.
Hartlepool campaigner Iris Ryder said: "The legal challenge is the beginning of a new stage in the fight by Hartlepool residents to prevent our community from becoming the international toxic waste dumping ground of choice of both governments and polluting industries.
Source and link to full story
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2675770/High-court-challenge-to-stop-toxic-French-ship-arriving-in-Britain.html
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