Radioactive Scots beach could be shut

Senior reporter

Wednesday 9 November 2011

CONCERNS are growing that a Scottish beach could become the first area in the UK to be closed permanently because it is riddled with radioactive material.

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GERRY BRAIDEN

Dalgety Bay in Fife would be shut under the measure to prevent the public being exposed to potentially cancer-causing particles from dismantled Second World War planes.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) could be forced to designate the site of a former military airfield “radioactive contaminated land” if the Ministry Of Defence does not take voluntary action to deal with the continuing problems.

It follows the discovery of “significant” sources of radiation that could pose a risk to the public if exposed particles were again found on the same beach where about 200 radioactive particles have already been discovered.Sepa said the material appeared to be buried at the headland on the beach, adding it posed a “significant hazard” if exposed through erosion or movement.The agency said such a situation could develop with winter storms and the particles would “pose a risk to the Dalgety Bay community”.It is believed the contamination comes from residue of radium-coated instrument panels used on military aircraft. Dalgety Bay was the site of a Second World War airfield, where many aircraft were dismantled. The dials in the planes were coated with radioactive radium so they could be read at night. It is thought they were incinerated with other waste, then tipped on the land and used to help reclaim some of the coastline. Many surveys have been carried out on the beach since radiation was discovered in 1990. Three years ago Colin Bayes, Sepa’s director of environmental protection, said remedial action should be taken and work was carried out to shore up the problem.Since then, monitoring has been undertaken by Sepa and the MoD, with radioactive material being removed.However, while the MOD predicted that 100 radioactive particles a year could continue coming back to the beach, 468 particles have been found recently. Last month, a lump of contaminated metal was discovered, prompting the closure of parts of the foreshore. It was 10 times more contaminated than any found previously.Sepa has also discounted the possibility that the radioactive cache is off-shore, with attention now focusing at the Dalgety Bay headland.The agency has also warned an area around the foreshore could be designated radioactive contaminated land for the public protection – and no amount of remedial action could have that designation lifted.The designation has never before been used in the UK and Sepa said it would take that course of action only if all other avenues were exhausted. The agency called for a long-term plan to deal with the problem.It also advised anyone using the beach not to remove any material and to wash their hands following any visit.Sepa has presented its findings to the MoD, Scottish Government, Food Standards Agency, Fife Council, the Health Protection Agency and the NHS.An MoD spokesman said: “The MOD is considering how best to assist Sepa with the recovery and removal of the source of significant radioactivity and is awaiting further information from Sepa.“MoD will work with Sepa, the Scottish Executive and the Dalgety Bay Forum to identify the likelihood of residual risks posed and requirement for any remedial action once the details of the most recent Sepa findings are published.”

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Radioactive Scots beach could be shut

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