Alex Rowley, Fife Labour Leader, has visited Dalgety Bay to reassure residents in the wake of radiation reports and worrying coverage in the media. He has spoken with community council leader, Colin McPhail, to ensure movement forward of a solution to the increasing number of particles found.
He has urged Fife Council’s SNP-LibDem administration to get behind the local MP, Gordon Brown, who has worked over the years to ensure the MoD continued its monitoring of the beach areas when it was feared the checks would be withdrawn.
On 31st October another 50 radioactive particles were found in one day on the foreshore near to Dalgety Bay Sailing Club. The environmental authority said it is continuing to monitor the area and upon the insistence of Mr Brown, brought forward an urgent meeting to discuss the issue.
Mr Rowley has called on the SNP-LibDem administration to also get behind the local MSP, Helen Eadie, to ensure the best interests of the community are represented.
He said: ” I am hoping that Fife Council can agree to support the call being made by the Community Council, local councillors, the local MSP and MP for the MoD to bring forward proposals for a remediation plan as recommended by SEPA. I feel that the more we can speak with one voice on this issue the more chance we have of alerting the MoD to the significances of these finds in the last number of weeks and for them, the MoD, to accept the need to act.
“There is also I believe a consensus amongst all local representatives and the community council that having this area classified as a contaminated site is not in the town’s best interest and I hope that Fife Council will do all it can to avoid this happening and to help build the campaign for action on the part of the MoD.”
The radioactive particles are thought to have come from the luminous dials of wartime aircraft which were destroyed and dumped by the Ministry of Defence 60 years ago when the area was home to Donibristle Airfield.
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