ENVIRONMENTAL protesters say the decision by the French Government to award the contract to Able UK is a travesty of justice.
Protesters from Friends of Hartlepool and Hartlepool and North Tees Friends of the Earth have joined forces to condemn the decision to allow Able UK to dismantle the French vessel, the Clemenceau.
Jean Kennedy, a founder member of Friends of Hartl
epool, said: "Bringing the Clemenceau aircraft carrier to Hartlepool is a travesty of environmental justice to the people of Hartlepool.
Back to main story>>"This ship has been turned away by India and the Turkish, Bangladeshi and Italian authorities have also refused it. Who will turn it away from our shore?
"There are tonnes of toxic asbestos on this vessel and it is a serious threat to our health and safety.
"The consequences of burying all these materials under our good earth will have repercussions for hundreds of years, not to mention all the other ships and aircraft which will be coming here.
"This will lead the way for the recycling of nuclear submarines on the same site with the mines and caverns being filled with nuclear waste.
"We have fought hard but the Government is opening up the floodgates to off-load the dirtiest cargo known to man.
"We deserve better."
Evelyn Leck, of Hartlepool and North Tees Friends of the Earth, said: "I don't think people fully realise how big this vessel is. It is full of harmful chemicals including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and all kinds of other toxins.
"The Clemenceau is not the first and I'm sure it won't be the last. People are wrong if they think it is just the four ghost ships getting scrapped here.
"The Indian Government didn't want it so why should we?"
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