https://gloucestershiredaily.co.uk/tags/1950s/Recent content in 1950s on Gloucestershire DailyHugo -- gohugo.ioen-usFri, 03 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000https://gloucestershiredaily.co.uk/gloucestershire-coal-mines-considered-as-nuclear-waste-storage-site-in-the-1950s/Fri, 03 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000https://gloucestershiredaily.co.uk/gloucestershire-coal-mines-considered-as-nuclear-waste-storage-site-in-the-1950s/In the 1950s, the British government seriously considered storing nuclear waste in disused coal mines across Gloucestershire. As the UK advanced its atomic energy and weapons programs, initial plans were approved to dispose of radioactive waste in some of the county’s abandoned mining pits. Authorization was reportedly given to dump radioactive material from the Harwell and Aldermaston facilities in old coal workings within the Forest of Dean. Specific sites included New Fancy near Parkend, Crump Meadow, Foxes Bridge, and Lightmoor near Cinderford, as reported by the Dean Forest Mercury on August 20, 1954.https://gloucestershiredaily.co.uk/gloucestershire-coal-mines-proposed-as-nuclear-waste-storage-in-the-1950s/Fri, 03 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000https://gloucestershiredaily.co.uk/gloucestershire-coal-mines-proposed-as-nuclear-waste-storage-in-the-1950s/In the 1950s, the British government seriously considered storing nuclear waste in disused coal mines in Gloucestershire. Following the initial stages of the UK’s atomic energy and weapons program, plans were approved to dump radioactive waste from Harwell and Aldermaston in old coal pits within the Forest of Dean. Among the proposed sites were the New Fancy mine near Parkend, Crump Meadow, Foxes Bridge, and Lightmoor near Cinderford, as reported by the Dean Forest Mercury on August 20, 1954.