UN delegate on nuclear fact-finding mission

A UN delegate visited Stirling as part of a mission to investigate the effects of nuclear waste and pollution on local communities.

Baskut Tuncak, the UN Special Rapporteur on Toxic Waste, met with members of the Stirling CND to discuss the ongoing transportation of nuclear warheards through Stirling en route to Faslane.

Mr Tuncak was visiting a number of towns and cities in what was his first official visit to the UK. He took time to sit down with both the Scottish and UK Governments.

Mark Ruskell, Green MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, was among those who met with Mr Tuncak and he says the visit helped highlight the challenges faced in helping hold the MOD to account.

He said: “For decades communities around the Stirling area have lived with nuclear warheads being transported in lorries on our roads.

“Warhead convoys have been involved in road accidents, they have become lost and present a terrorist risk – especially when they stop overnight at the Forthside barracks.

“The lack of transparency from the MoD about the nature of these risks means that Stirling Council and national agencies are unable to draw up realistic contingency plans.

“There is no way to scrutinise the MoD on this. Piecemeal information is released through Freedom of Information requests.

“The visit from the UN Rapporteur has been very useful in highlighting the challenges that communities and agencies have found in holding the MoD to account and I hope his forthcoming report to the UK Government will highlight changes that are needed so we are better informed and prepared.”