Nottingham's plans to deal with a nuclear strike have been outlined during a council meeting. Plans were discussed following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and president Putin's continued threats to unleash devastating weaponry on the world if any country intervenes.
The very first question asked by a member of the public during a meeting of full council on Monday, May 9, was not about the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, nor was it about the significant financial problems plaguing the Labour-run authority, but instead raised fears over the potential for a nuclear missile strike.
Such a question comes as Russia continues to wage war in Ukraine, which has been devastated by an assault from Putin's ground and air forces, as well as consistent artillery shelling. Putin has now threatened retaliation over Finland's hopes to soon join NATO because it shares an 800-mile border with Russia.
Read more: Concerns from improvement board at city council
While a nuclear strike on the city is indeed incredibly unlikely, Nottingham City Council revealed its plans for such an eventuality. The citizen asked: "The threat of a nuclear war is greater than ever because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and potential for NATO countries, including the UK to become involved. President Putin has threatened to use nuclear weapons in which case NATO would almost certainly strike back.
"Weapons much more powerful than those used in Hiroshima and Nagasaki would be involved, resulting in immediate death, injury and destruction of buildings including hospitals. The after-effects include radiation poisoning, burns and cancers.
"Public services like water, power and sewerage would be destroyed and transport impossible. What emergency plans does Nottingham City Council have in preparation for a nuclear warhead explosion in the vicinity of Nottingham?"
Many of Russia's nuclear warheads are five-times as powerful as the atom bombs dropped during the Second World War. It would take roughly 20 minutes from launch for a Russian missile to deliver its payload to the UK, and there is no way to stop it once it has launched.
While the UK does not have the ability to intercept such missiles it is believed its Trident missile system, based at sea on the Vanguard submarine, would act as a deterrent to prevent a launch in the first instance. It is understood the Kremlin has put its systems on 'alert' and it is planning to deploy its new Satan-II missiles in the Autumn.
Sally Longford, Lenton and Wollaton East councillor who sits as the portfolio holder for energy and environment, said she does "share the concerns" in "troubled times". Councillor Longford, who stepped down as deputy leader recently, is also responsible for emergency planning in the city.
She said: "I've been responsible for emergency planning for the last three years and I can tell you the city council has responsibility to prepare for civil emergencies, not those related to war or nuclear attack.
"The council takes responsibility for dealing with similar emergencies seriously and has a team that works with partners to train and exercise plans to cover those civil emergencies. While the national risk register registry includes references to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents, an attack on Nottingham by a nuclear weapon is outside the scope of the risk register and the civil contingency duties on the council.
"The council has not been asked or is required to have plans for such an incident, the plans we have are based on the likely levels of risk and impact. The Government could take powers under part two of the civil contingencies act which would allow it to make special, temporary legislation to deal with the most serious of emergencies. If part two powers were implemented Government would appoint a regional coordinator who would act as a focal point for coordination of response efforts.
"The council, through the Local Resilience Forum, has made generic and specific plans which would be used to address any response to the human and environmental issues caused by exposure to nuclear material, but does not have plans for a nuclear strike on Nottingham. Central Government is responsible for such planning, rather than local authorities, and can I suggest the citizen puts this question to their local MP."
