The planning application for 'Project Pegasus' was validated by the Council on 30th November 2008, and three weeks has been allowed for the consultation period, which closes on 23rd December.
The Nuclear Information Service (NIS) has written to West Berkshire Council requesting an extension to the public consultation period for the planning application.
NIS Director Peter Burt said: "Consulting on a complicated and controversial planning application like this over the Christmas period is not acceptable, and I am afraid it shows that the Ministry of Defence and West Berkshire Council are trying to avoid public debate on an expensive and unnecessary new development at AWE Aldermaston.
"There are over 60 highly technical documents about the enriched uranium facility on the West Berkshire planning application website, and it is laughable to think that even the most concerned local person has the time to wade through all these and then write a letter to the council at Christmas - a time when everyone has better things to do.
"There is a massive contrast between consultation over the government's plans to build new nuclear power stations and the lack of discussion over developments at AWE Aldermaston. The planning process for the new nuclear power stations is lasting for around eighteen months and will be dealt with at the national level, yet plans for Berkshire's nuclear weapons factory are being sneaked through on the quiet by a local planning committee meeting in a village hall.
"We think it is important that everyone who wants to has the opportunity to comment on this important application - whether they are for it or against it and so we are calling for the deadline for consultation on the Project Pegasus planning application to be extended until the end of January."
