Environmental watchdogs encouraged after Dalgety Bay radiation meeting

A meeting on tackling radiation at Dalgety Bay has been hailed as “constructive”.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) said it had been encouraged by the cooperative attitude adopted by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Sepa met the MoD to resolve the saga of what should be done to clean up the beach at Dalgety Bay where radioactive particles were first discovered more than two decades ago.

Tensions have been mounting after the MoD questioned Sepa’s reports into the contamination that named the MoD responsible for the pollution.

Matters escalated when defence minister Andrew Murrison attacked the agency for being “less than helpful”.

However, after getting round the table, Sepa said there had been a “frank and open exchange of views” on the risk assessment and appropriate persons reports.

Sepa executive director, Calum MacDonald, told The Courier: “It was a very useful meeting and I am encouraged by the cooperative approach that the MoD has shown today.

“Sepa will continue to strive for a voluntary solution to the contamination at Dalgety Bay.”

The MoD declined to comment following the meeting.