HUNDREDS of protesters turned up outside Cardiff Crown Court this week to show their opposition to stance against the Hinkley mud dumping and seek an injunction.

According to hardcore campaigner Max Wallis, from Friends of the Earth Penarth and Barry, the judge said that developers EDF need to clarify whether moving the mud from Hinkley Point to just off the coast near Cardiff and the Vale is covered by an environmental impact assessment (EIA).

The company began the dumping of the mud from near the nuclear plant to Cardiff Grounds officially beganat the beginning of the month. Many local residents from Penarth, Barry and Cardiff have been joined together in opposition, the situation, with hundreds turning up to the court on Monday to see if an injunction to halt the dumping would be passed.

However, The request for an injunction was turned down, but protesters are still positive and say they will carry on their campaign.

Plaid Vale and Barry town councillor, Nic Hodges and Cllr Shirley Hodges were among those campaigning.

Cllr Nic Hodges said: “There was a large turnout at the Cardiff County court to support the injunction to stop the mud dumping.

“There is great concern that insufficient testing has been carried out by NRW on behalf of the Welsh Government.

“We believe that an environmental impact assessment needs to be carried out and that the dumping should stop and allow this testing to take place.

“It’s like the Barry incinerator all over again.”

Mr Wallis added: “There is no EIA and that isn’t right. We have our beaches and they are important to us. They were improving due to regular clean-ups and then this invisible stuff comes along. Who knows what is in this mud.”

EDF are dredging the mud ahead of building nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point C in Somerset.

Company EDF and environmental company Natural Resources Wales have both said that the mud holds “no threat to human health or the environment”.

A spokesman for NRW said: “Every element of the application was considered thoroughly including testing of the sediment from the dredge sites experts in accordance with international standards, guidelines, and advice from health experts.

“The results showed it was suitable for disposal at sea.”