The anti-nuclear protests that took place at Bridgend bunker 40 years ago
It is hard to believe that it has been 40 years since the CND Bridgend protests that saw a peace camp set up at a controversial bunker
Back in January 1982, a peace camp was set up outside a nuclear fallout shelter near Bridgend. The bunker was being upgraded as part of a £400,000 scheme and protestors they vowed to stay until the work was completed.
The bunker was built just before the Second World War as an ammunition store at the town's huge armaments factory.
The then chairman of CND Wales said, "We are not trying to physically prevent the work, because it is on the councillors who voted for a nuclear-free county and then commissioned work that the pressure should be brought."
A Bridgend CND spokesperson said the 'peace camp' would last day and night. They said work at the bunker had included the installation of teleprinters from the Government's various nuclear war centres, plus landlines to the regional control bunker for South Wales at nearby Brackla.
The protest came to an end eight weeks later in April 1982.
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CND protestors pictured outside Mid Glamorgan County Hall, Cardiff in December 1981. They were protesting against plans to spend £398,000 on extending and modifying the Waterton bunker at Bridgend
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Anti-Nuclear protestors outside the "bunker" on the Bridgend Industrial Estate in January 1982. Pictured, a tent for this trio of campaigners. They are (left to right) Gaynor Hughes of Cymmer, Lesley Rees of Porth Mrs Chris King of Wattstown
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Two of the members of the Bridgend Branch of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament stand on top of the Mid Glamorgan Council's nuclear bunker on the Bridgend Industrial Estate. They are (left) Branch Treasurer Robert Kedge and (right) branch Secretary Stephen Samuel
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Anti-nuclear supporters wind up their peace camp on the site of the controversial bunker on the Bridgend Industrial Estate but declared "We will be back". Pictured in April 1982 are Oliver Boston, Cerys Russell, aged 12, and Morfydd Russell, aged 10, plant daffodils at the Bridgend bunker which was to be converted into a nuclear war headquarters
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