I fought hard to save the ROF at Puriton, but failed. Now the old site may rise from disuse and perform a useful function again. This was where the famous bouncing bombs used against German dams in WW2 were filled with high explosive. This was where all manner of dangerous military hardware was succesfully and safely made. I visited the plant many times (that's me handling something that could have gone bang - if they hadn't made it safe - inside the plant a few years ago) Puriton was proud of the ROF and rightly so. But ever since BAE systems locked the gates there have been more questions than answers about the future. Hopefully that is changing. Plans to redevelop the site are well advanced. Sedgemoor District Council has taken the lead and BAE systems have staged a local exhibition to show what will need to be done. Much of the site is contaminated - after all it is hard to make high explosives for so long without causing some contained pollution. But there are serious plans to clean up the entire area and turn it into an eco-park. This is a map of the site - it may surprise you, because the place doesn't look industrialised at ground level. However the ROF had extensive underground operations and these will prove the most challenging to clean up.

If you need to know more there are useful links below:

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• http://www.baesystems.com/WorldwideLocations/uk/Locations/Bridgwater/autoGen_10712092435.html
• http://www.alderking.com/case_studies/pdf/ROF%20Puriton%20NT.pdf
• http://www.sedgemoor.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=9350&p=0
• http://sedgemoor-consult.limehouse.co.uk/portal/puriton_energy_park_spd?pointId=1703857