My Nonagenarian, spinster, auntie - Plymouth born and bred - has lived here in South-East Cornwall since the 1941 blitz and the emotional shock brought about by her family's suffering in those days has never left her and only very rarely has she re-visited Plymouth.

A fiercely independent and physically fit lady, she now has the chance of spending what must be her last few years in infinitely more comfortable circumstances in a household which is within 'spitting distance' of the Naval Base.

However, she has expressed genuine concern about living in Devonport and in an effort to allay her fears I have made some enquiries of the Ministry of Defence.

There are, I know, others living in SE Cornwall who feel uneasy about activities just across the river and I should be glad if you would, by way of some measure of reassurance, give some publicity to what the Ministry had to tell me:-

a) HM Naval Base Devonport is home to the Second Submarine Squadron, included in which are seven TRAFALGAR Class nuclear powered submarines and all of which "have an excellent safety record".

b) The design of these submarines is such that "an accident involving the nuclear reactor is very unlikely".

c) Although any accident is "unlikely" the Ministry of Defence considers it "important to have a plan in place that would protect the public". The plan is known as DEVONPORT PUBLIC SAFETY SCHEME (DEVPUBSAFE) and is intended to "cover everyone who lives within approximately 2KM of the Naval Base".

d) Quite a populous area involved i.e. most of Devonport, Keyham, Ford and St Budeaux, large housing estates at Ham and North Prospect, as well as approaches to the Tamar Bridge and part of Torpoint. But most of the residents of these areas can take some comfort from the further statement from Ministry of Defence that "even if an accident did happen it would probably not affect people living more than 0.5km from the submarine in the Naval Base".

e) The DEVPUBSAFE plan may be consulted in public libraries in Plymouth. Recommendations about what to do if the warning siren is heard include such items as - "Put out or damp down fires and boilers", "Shut down ventilation devices", "Close windows and doors and stay indoors", "Take potassium iodate tablets if advised to do so".

What I must point out is that all the foregoing relates to the situation which applied before the public became aware of the recent proposals about a new jetty at Bull Point and the type of missiles which will be handled there. I suggest that anyone seeking further information about nuclear safety at Devonport should write to: Captain, Base Safety, HM Naval Base, Devonport, Plymouth PL2 2BG.

GODFREY WYCISK

Callington.