RWE npower, who operate the power station, put their controversial scheme to dispose of pulverised fuel ash (PFA )in Thrupp Lake on hold in February this year, but refused to rule out destroying the Lake at some time in the future. Today, County Councillors granted permission to WRG Ltd to stockpile 400,000 tonnes of ash from the Power Station at its Sutton Courtenay Landfill Site. The Landfill Site is right next to the Power Station, and the ash can readily be moved there without using public roads. WRG will use the ash for engineering purposes and restoration of the landfill site in the future. The stockpile forms part of a series of changes to the existing arrangements at the Landfill Site, designed to meet technical requirements and changing waste disposal needs. Under European legislation, the power station has to close by the end of 2015. This stockpile should be adequate to meet the power station's ash disposal needs until then.

Dr Basil Crowley, Chairman of Save Radley Lakes, said:

“This is extremely good news indeed. We have been campaigning for three years, with massive support from the community, to save Thrupp Lake . We have always said that it there ought to be a better way of disposing of Didcot's ash than dumping it in a County Wildlife Site. It now seems that an alternative has been found. WRG Ltd and RWE npower have obviously worked hard to come up with this solution, and great credit is due to them for that. As far as we can see, the stockpile at Sutton Courtenay will take all the ash that might otherwise have gone into Thrupp Lake . There seems to be no need at all now for Npower to destroy the Lake . This is an excellent outcome.”

Commenting on news that the new plan to allow Waste Recycling Group Ltd to stockpile ash from Didcot power station has been approved, which will ensure Thrupp Lake, Radley is permanently saved from destruction, Local Liberal Democrat MP and active supporter of the Save Radley Lakes campaign, Dr Evan Harris, said:

"I am delighted at this development, which should finally ensure that Thrupp Lake has a long and healthy future for local people to enjoy.

"I welcome WRG Ltd and Npower working together to find a solution that protects a beautiful and important county wildlife site.

"The Save Radley Lakes campaigners also deserve great praise for their positive campaign - not simply opposing the threat to Thrupp Lake but also working constructively to find less environmentally damaging solutions to the problem of disposing of ash from Didcot power station."

Save Radley Lakes expressed hope that it will now be able to work with the interested parties, including Npower, over the long-term development and management of the Radley Lakes as a wildlife and community resource.