Published: Thursday, 3rd July, 2008 09:35
Sepa to give radioactive verdict on Dalgety Bay beach
By Siew Peng Lee
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DALGETY BAY residents will find out if their beach will be classified as a radioactive contaminated area following work carried out by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) this month.
Sepa plans to undertake a further monitoring and recovery programme at Dalgety Bay to determine the current status of the radioactive contamination on the beach and the risk to people who use it.
The site work is expected to last around a week but it is likely that a number of weeks of analysis will be needed before Sepa can reach any conclusions.
Radioactive particles were first detected on the beach at Dalgety Bay by accident in 1990 by Rosyth Dockyard workers.
In a recent study for the Ministry of Defence by environmental consultants Enviros, traces of radium-226 were found in the gardens of several properties in The Wynd, the beach and Dalgety Bay Sailing Club.
It is thought that the radiation was caused by World War Two fighter planes that used radium to light up dials.
The planes were broken up after the war at the old Donibristle airfield and the ash was dumped along the Forth or to reclaim land.
However, Sepa has said that it remains concerned that the MoD has not yet committed to extend investigations to the more significant contamination on the foreshore, and has urged the ministry to undertake work in the area as soon as possible.
A spokesperson for Sepa said, “Sepa is still committed to monitoring the foreshore and has concerns that there is potential for significant contamination on the inter-tidal area which could pose a risk to people using the beach.
“Sepa and the MoD are engaged in constructive talks on this matter and it is hoped that we will be able to agree a joint way forward to address the problems at Dalgety Bay.”
Colin McPhail, chair of Dalgety Bay Community Council, welcomed the survey but said, “The thing we want to avoid is for it (the beach) to be declared a radioactive contaminated area.
“That would be a sacrilege to the community – the area has been used since the town began.
“Sepa wants to avoid that and we want to avoid that situation because it would ontinue into perpetuity and would really have an impact on Dalgety Bay.
“There’s no reason for it – if they can do for the foreshore what they did on land, there’s no reason to declare it a radioactive contaminated area.
"The results of the survey should negate it, as what Sepa find would get removed as well.”
He said there would be a “Dalgety Bay Forum” at the end of August to discuss the results of the surveys carried out by the MoD and Sepa, and to see what final actions will be taken.
The forum will comprise representatives from the community council, Dalgety Bay Sailing Club, Sepa, the Scottish Government, the Health Protection Agency, the Defence Estates Agency, Enviros, Fife Council and NHS Fife.
Mr McPhail said, “We’ve certainly put the pressure on Sepa to do something for the marine side and the foreshore.
"At the end of August, we’ll find out if the action being taken is satisfactory and we will take it from there.
“We are sick and tired of this going on since 1990 and action should be taken to resolve the matter once and for all.
“It affects us as a community from a social and financial point of view and I will certainly be raising the community aspect and their views about the matter.”
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