Left, Colin McPhail met with Gordon Brown MP
Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath Labour MP, Gordon Brown, has insisted that a scheduled meeting be brought forward urgently to discuss the ongoing issue of radioactive particles found at Dalgety Bay.
For years now Gordon Brown has been working alongside the community council and with MSP Helen Eadie to ensure that the site is being properly monitored and that reports are produced on the radiation threat posed from the breakup of old wartime planes from the MoD’s Donibristle air base.
The MP said: “A further 33 sources were recovered from Dalgety Bay intertidal area on Saturday, 22 October which brings the total sources recovered by SEPA to 326 since September 2011.”
Since then, on 31st October, a further 50 finds were made.
Mr Brown said: “Given this large increase in the number of sources being found over such a short period and the fact that the levels of a recent find of metal were ten times higher than anything ever found before, I have asked SEPA to bring forward the meeting of the Dalgety Bay Radiation Forum from the 22nd November. I do this because I feel there is an urgent need for this forum to come together and discuss these recent finding. Secondly, I have written to NHS Fife to seek assurance that every precaution has been taken and to reassure local residents that there is no cancer threat in the area as a result of these latest development, and thirdly, I have already written to the MoD raising my concern at these latest findings and specifically asking them to bring forward proposals for a remediation plan as recommended by SEPA.”
Dalgety Bay Community Council chairman, Colin McPhail, said: “We have worked alongside Gordon on this issue over many years and we are backing his calls for action to be taken and a remediation plan to be brought forward. We will continue to work with all members of the Radiation Forum but we feel the MoD must increase its participation and look to a solution.”
SEPA has said that due to continuing high number of finds, monitoring of the affected area remains incomplete and but is due to resume.
The meeting to discuss the matter was brought forward to Monday, 7 November at Mr Brown’s insistence.
Watch the video report from www.fifetoday.co.uk on youtube.
The level of radiation in the latest finds takes this sorry saga to a new level and I am pleased that Gordon Brown is calling for this action. The days of hoping that this thing will just go away are over, so we need this action and we need everyone to work together rather than pass the buck as the MOD seem to be doing when they say SEPA can deal with it! Who caused this problem? The MOD