Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has demanded the Ministry of Defence take a more “proactive approach” to ridding Dalgety Bay beach of radiation.
This is despite assurances from defence secretary Liam Fox that Defence Estates would extend its monitoring of the area for a further three years and dispose of high-activity radioactive particles along the way.
The Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath MP wrote to Mr Fox over the long-running saga of radioactive particlesbelieved to be from the second world war erawashing up on the foreshore of the Fife town.
Particles were first found on the beach over 20 years ago and numerous surveys since then have found traces of radioactive debris on the beach, in gardens and at the sailing club.
It is widely thought that the particles came from paint used on luminous dials on aircraft active during the war at nearby Donibristle airfield.
Dr Fox assured the MP that the MoD took both its environmental responsibilities and duty of care in matters such as that at Dalgety Bay very seriously.
He said, “The MoD has sought to assist SEPA without prejudice despite not having been found to have caused or knowingly permitted the contamination in question.
“As you may be aware, work already undertaken by Defence Estates in removing radioactive particles from the foreshore has significantly reduced the potential hazard.”
Dr Fox said that it had been agreed that a voluntary approach was “clearly preferable” in this case and Defence Estates would continue to work closely with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to resolve the matter.
He said, “However, there remains uncertainty whether a high-activity source of significance would ever migrate ashore, come into contact with or affect the health of a bay user.
“That said, Defence Estates is planning to extend the monitoring programme for a further three years and dispose of high activity radioactive contamination where encountered.”
Dr Fox added that this would give SEPA and Defence Estates time to develop an appropriate risk assessment to inform the long-term management of the contamination.
But Mr Brown said, “While I am grateful for this promise, I want an assurance that those involved will proactively seek out substances which may be a risk to safety and that the work of removing radioactive particles from the foreshore will be accelerated.”
He has written to the defence secretary to demand that he takes a more proactive approach to disposing of the radium contamination.