Mr Brown met with community council and sailing club members
MP Gordon Brown has called for action from the Ministry of Defence (MoD)
to tackle “worrying” levels of radiation at Dalgety Bay’s beach.
Mr Brown, the MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, has written to
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond to request a face-to-face meeting.
Sepa has warned that an area around the foreshore could be designated
Radioactive Contaminated Land for the public protection, as it called
for a long-term plan to deal with the problem.
Recently, a lump of contaminated metal was found on the beach. It was
10 times more contaminated than any found before at the spot.
Mr Brown held a meeting in Dalgety Bay on 12 November with members of the
community council, the sailing club and local MSP Helen Eadie to discuss
the issue.
Mr Brown said: “The Scottish Environmental Protection
Agency has made clear that the findings over the last number of weeks
have been at a new and worrying level.
“The local community council has the concerted support of the local
community, the local council and local politicians in their call for the
MoD to take the correct action in light of these finds.”
He said: “Several weeks have now gone by when the MoD has failed to
respond to the legitimate worries of the residents of Dalgety Bay.
“When advanced levels of radiation are discovered in materials anywhere
there is a duty to act immediately.
“The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency has urged remedial work
before the onset of winter weather.
“This is an important way we can reassure residents that the increased
levels that were discovered in recent weeks, are being addressed.
“I am urging the MoD to undertake the work themselves. Time is running
out and I am now asking the Secretary of State that the Ministry of
Defence will pay the cost of this work.
“In addition I am urging the health authorities to reassure people with
an updated study on the health outcomes locally. I believe this work
will give people the confidence that the problem is being contained.”
