Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Weedon Bec's military history comes back to haunt it


Back in July 2013 I photographed the former Royal Ordnance Depot at Weedon Bec in Northamptonshire.

Today came news that there is still ordnance in the village - under a children's playground.

BBC News reports:
A parish council fears it could be facing bankruptcy over the £1m cost of clearing a mound where two World War Two hand grenades were found. 
The mound near a play area in Weedon Bec, near Daventry, was being cleared by the parish council in July when the explosives were found. 
The bomb squad was called but the council found the cost of clearing the site had risen to more than £1m.
The report goes on to say that the mound is thought to contain waste from "nearby Weedon Barracks," though these were demolished in the mid 1950s. They stood next to the Royal Ordnance Depot.

It also reports the Ministry of Defence says it is "examining ways" to "provide financial support to the parish council".

And quite right too.

I'm all for grazed knees, but live hand grenades are probably going a bit far for a playground.

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