Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown will use a parliamentary debate on Wednesday to demand the MoD takes responsibility for radiation found on Dalgety Bay beach.
As it was revealed that an updated survey of the potential links between radiation in the area and cancer will be carried out, he said he was ”determined” the picturesque shoreline would not have the stigma of becoming the UK’s first parcel of radioactive contaminated land.
After consultation with local community council chairman Colin McPhail, and in response to growing concerns, the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath MP is to demand the ministry produces and funds a plan for remedial work which will remove radioactive particles and restore the environment at and beyond Dalgety Bay sailing club.
”Over 20 years, up until two months ago, surveys did not reveal a worrying level of radiation,” said Mr Brown. ”But now the radiation levels revealed are, in some cases, 10 times what has previously been discovered it is time urgent action be taken.
”Without the support of the MoD, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency have now removed particles from the site.
”Even though the minister has refused to take the necessary action, Fife health authorities have agreed an updated survey of potential links between radiation in the area and cancer. But the MoD have yet to agree the necessary measures.”
Mr Brown, who last week criticised the MoD for not being on site for two months, stressed any potentially dangerous particles must be immediately removed and monitoring had to continue.
”Most importantly, we need a remediation plan for the area. This must include removing any potentially dangerous items and restoring the land near and at the sailing club.”
The MoD has been given a deadline of the end of February to draft a plan. Failing that, the land would be designated contaminated by March but that ”is to be avoided at all costs,” added the MP.
”I hope to hear from the ministry that there will be a plan of action that will be tabled and agreed and funded,” he said. ”We have nuclear submarines, nuclear power stations, experimental nuclear work at Dounreay and yet we face the prospects, because of a failure by the MoD, that a small, beautiful part of land, occupied mainly by a sailing club, will carry the title of the only officially registered area of radiation-contaminated land in the UK, and the damage to the area, the loss to the community, the disruption to local people is totally avoidable.
”I ask for recognition of the ministry’s responsibility and a plan of action that the community is rightly demanding.”
Mr McPhail said the community wanted a final solution to the decades old issue of radiation said to come from luminous dials on aircraft at what was Donibristle airfield to ease fears and avoid the designation.
”If it is declared to be contaminated it is on the register for eternity. We don’t want that stigma.”