Banned anti-nuclear camps 'go on'

About a dozen women protesters attended the High Court hearing

Campaigners banned from holding monthly protests at Britain's nuclear weapons factory in Berkshire have said they will continue demonstrations elsewhere.

The Aldermaston Women's Peace Camp was barred from land outside the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) last May.

The MoD introduced new by-laws to ban them from the government-owned land.

The women, who have held protest camps for more than 20 years, recently lost a High Court challenge of the laws.

We will continue to maintain our presence Sian Jones Peace camp organiser

They had argued the restrictions amounted to an unlawful interference with freedom of expression and their human rights. They are deciding whether to appeal against the decision.

AWE provides the warheads for Trident - the submarine-launched ballistic missile system that constitutes the UK's nuclear deterrent. The system is being upgraded at the site.

Sian Jones, an organiser of the peace camps, said: "We're still at camp.

"Last weekend we demonstrated on land near the A340 roundabout.

"We will continue to maintain our presence and protest somewhere in close proximity to Aldermaston, no matter what the judicial review has said."

She urged supporters of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) to support the camps by attending an anniversary to mark 50 years since the first protest at Aldermaston, when 10,000 people marched from London.

'September 11'

"What we're hoping is that a large number of people will come down to the CND birthday event which is being organised on Easter Monday, and show that they don't only oppose the development of a new generation of nuclear weapons but they also [support] the right to protest against the government's decision."

The MoD argues the by-laws are necessary because of heightened security concerns in the wake of the September 11 attacks in the US and fears that terrorists could target nuclear sites.

During the High Court challenge, Gordon Nardell, representing the MoD, said the restriction applied to everyone "not just the Aldermaston Women's Peace Camp - but also the scouts, or say, the Ramblers Association."

The MoD was also concerned that the safety of protesters was sufficiently protected from attacks by local residents, which had happened in the past, he said.