THE nuclear weapons factories in Aldermaston and Burghfield must improve their safety measures, a regulator has warned. 

The Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), five miles from the centre of Reading, makes warheads for Trident, the UK’s nuclear weapons programme. 

AWE has ‘failed to adequately address shortfalls’, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) warned on July 19. 

ONR has served improvement notices to AWE, demanding it improves ‘risk assessments for organisational change which may affect safety’.

The regulator said: “[We] do not consider that the issue poses an immediate risk to nuclear safety, but expect to see sustained improvements so that safety is not adversely affected in the future.

“ONR has been focusing on AWE’s organisational change performance for some time.”

The regulator previously sent an enforcement letter, carried out targeted inspections, and given advice and guidance to AWE. 

David Cullen, director of the Nuclear Information Service, said: “Even after seven years of enhanced regulation, and two years into an improvement plan, there seems no end in sight and problems keep emerging.

“AWE need to provide a public explanation of what is causing these problems and how they will fix them. It’s long overdue.”

In a statement, AWE said: “While improvements have been made, we recognise there is more work to do … and are committed to making the necessary enhancements.”

AWE is required to comply with the improvement notices by January 2021. 

Last week, four protesters were found guilty of aggravated trespass at AWE Burghfield, while blocking entrances. 

Campaigners from Trident Ploughshares shut down the factory for the day on October 24, 2018. 

Chris Bluemel, one of those found guilty, previously said that Trident breaches international humanitarian law and the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.