The Ministry of Defence has admitted that there is buried radium at the former Defence Aviation Repair Agency (DARA) site at Almondbank, near Perth, but stressed it does not believe it is harmful to residents.
Tests will be undertaken soon to identify the exact situation and potential danger. But politicians have called for clarity and locals have already expressed their shock.
As The Courier previously revealed (link), radiation has been identified at 13 sites in the UK, with three in Scotland, including Almondbank. It is understood a fourth site at Stirling Forthside has been decontaminated.
Vector Aerospace took over from DARA in April 2008. The company specialises in the repair, overhaul and testing of aerospace components and supports the UK’s three main military helicopter fleets Chinook, Lynx and Sea King as well as Tornado jets.
The radiation scare was revealed in a report drawn up last year and follows on from the discovery of 200 radium particles on Dalgety Bay beach in the autumn.
On Monday, the MoD confirmed to The Courier that radium is buried in soil at the site at Almondbank. It says it is set to carry out tests to determine its strength.
A spokesman said: ”The MoD is a responsible landowner and we have agreed to remediate radiological material at the former DARA Almondbank site as part of the sale agreement.
”We will start these works within the next few months, after liaising with the regulatory bodies and local people.”
He added: ”We consider protection of human health and the environment to be very important.
”If we identify a risk of harm to either we inform the regulatory authorities and public as soon as possible ensuring the necessary management measures are put in place.”
The spokesman stressed the dangers to the public are likely to be minute.
He said: ”As radium is primarily an emitter of alpha radiation, one would have to inhale or ingest it in order to suffer harm. The material in question at this site is both buried and securely fenced, thereby preventing inadvertent exposure.
”Until the late 1960s, radium was commonly used commercially, as well as by the military, in luminous paint on items such as dials, watches and clock faces.”
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”The MoD continues to work closely with the purchaser, Vector Aerospace, to ensure that the potential risk posed by radium contaminated soil within the site remains low.”
Nevertheless, the development has been slammed by politicians.
Liz Smith, Mid Scotland and Fife Scottish Conservative MSP, said she has written to MoD officials seeking details relating to sites including RAF Kinloss and RAF Machrihanish.
She said: ”The news that potential radiation has been found at former DARA site in Almondbank is a very concerning issue.
”I have been approached today by a number of constituents whom have expressed concern at the potential contamination at a site so close to many homes and businesses.
”I have today written to Philip Hammond MP, secretary of state for defence, seeking publication of details relating to the potential radiation at sites across Scotland.”
She added: ”I have also requested that the MoD look to hold urgent public meetings in the communities which are affected.
”I have also invited MoD officials to come to the Scottish Parliament to hold a briefing with a cross-party group of MSPs.”
Roseanna Cunningham, MSP for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire, will ask for details from the MoD regarding the ”extent and severity” of the contamination.
She said: ”I am extremely concerned to learn that Almondbank has been named as one of those sites with issues regarding historic radium contamination and I will be seeking further details from the MoD regarding the extent and severity of the contamination.
”It is disgraceful that this information is being dragged so reluctantly from the MoD, but I am determined that local people and the folk who work at Almondbank will be given all the information that is required.”
She added: ”The MoD and the UK Government need to clean up their act, both literally and figuratively. They need to be open and honest about contamination at sites like Almondbank and they need to accept responsibility for cleaning up the mess they have made over the years.”
Almond and Earn councillor Wilma Lumsden said: ”I am particularly concerned because there were in fact seven Royal Naval sites dotted around Almondbank, Cromwell Park and Pitcairngreen some of which were used for storage and distribution. I hope this will prove to be a storm in a teacup.”
Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Annabelle Ewing said: ”It is incredible how the MoD thinks it can just wash its hands of responsibility for the land it has contaminated over the years.
”I very much hope that the issues at Almondbank will not become anywhere near as problematic as they are at Dalgety Bay, but the fact remains that the lack of transparency and foot-dragging emanating from the UK Government has been absolutely shameful.”