Dalgety Bay Community Council has agreed in principle to back the Ministry of Defence’s £10 million beach clear-up plan.
It is another important hurdle crossed in the long-running campaign to find a solution to the problem of radiation contaminating the town’s foreshore area.
The MoD finally revealed its proposal to remove contaminated material and bolster sea defences. It would also build a new slipway for the sailing club.
Once completed around 2018 it is anticipated all the current restrictions would be lifted, allowing the public unrestricted access to the foreshore.
The move comes nearly 25 years after the first radioactive particles, from dumped wartime aircraft, were first discovered.
In a specially convened meeting, attended by representatives of the MoD, Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath MP Gordon Brown told the audience while welcoming the move, he believed the timetable needed to be moved forward.
“It should move much more quickly than the original plan,” he said.
“First there should be consultation then work to remove the particles as quickly as possible, as designs were drawn up for the engineering work.
“The timetable of 2018 seems a long time away. I would like it speeded up as quickly as possible,” he said.
“We should stress that the work should start as soon as possible once the consultation period is over.
“While all work may not be completed until 2018 we wish it done in stages so that the removal of particles from the surface and near surface areas happens very soon.”
Community Council chairman Colin McPhail said he believed the plan was a way forward for Dalgety Bay as a community, adding: “We have suffered this since 1990 in some form or other sometimes low activity and some sometimes high activity and we have coped with it.
“Because this radiation has a half-life of 1,600 years we do not want to leave this as a legacy for future generations.
“We want to sort this out for ourselves with the authorities and not leave it for future generations to sort out.
“We want to free this time so it can get back to its normal life in time for its 50th anniversary next year.”