BABCOCK has been slammed for a lack of consultation with the local community before submitting plans to cut up seven redundant nuclear submarines at Rosyth Dockyard.

The proposals were revealed in a public notice Babcock placed in the Press but took the area’s MP by surprise.

Mr Docherty said, “It’s typical of Babcock. They should be consulting with local people before taking this further.

“I’m quite clear that a blow torch shouldn’t be taken to a submarine until a decision has been taken about what is done with the waste and we’re no closer to that.

“Before Babcock put in applications they should be speaking to people in the community, to the Press, the community council and the local politicians about what their plans are.” The Press reported just before Christmas that Babcock had dropped plans to store Intermediate Level Waste (ILW) at Rosyth, which was welcomed in the Commons then by Mr Docherty.

However, on the latest move he said, “They’re getting ahead of themselves. The Ministry of Defence has said a site for the storage has to be identified before this progresses any further.

“I support the principle of dismantling taking place at Rosyth but we also need to see what benefits it can bring to West Fife.

“For example, specific skills are needed which Babcock don’t have so they should be working with Fife College in relation to that.

“They’ve jumped the gun and I think that Babcock are only thinking about the bottom line.

"They will make a lot of money out of this and, as I say, we need to see what benefits it brings to West Fife in general.

“They should be sitting down with the community and carry out a proper debate.” Meanwhile, Rosyth SNP councillor Douglas Chapman wants commitments from the UK Government that it will clean up its radioactive residue at Rosyth and Dalgety Bay if Scotland votes for independence.

Speaking after a meeting with the Scottish Environment Minister, Richard Lochhead, Councillor Chapman said, “We now need to see evidence that the project is continuing with some pace and drive behind it to identify a site within the UK for the storage of intermediate level waste (ILW) and a clear timescale is laid down leading to the start of the first sub being dismantled at Rosyth.

“We all appreciate the complexity around this project, however that complexity should not be used as a smokescreen to delay progress and that’s why we are seeking a definitive timetable to make sure the project does not begin to slip.

A spokesperson for Babcock said, “Babcock continues to support the Ministry of Defence’s ambitions to deliver the Submarine Dismantling Project safely and securely.

“As part of this process, we are required to present an Environmental Statement to both the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) and the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), outlining a detailed environmental impact assessment for the proposed dismantling project and any mitigation measures to avoid or minimise adverse impacts on the environment.

“Importantly, it is envisaged that this project will be delivered within current consent levels already agreed with our regulators.”