Residents must be kept updated over beach work, says MP

MP Lesley Laird is seeking assurances the community will be updated on progress of work to rid Dalgety Bay of radioactive contamination.

The Labour Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath politician has welcomed the approval of the next phase of the decontamination project for the beach, contaminated by Second World War debris.

At West Fife planning committee, project plans were presented and approved to reduce and control the health and environmental risks of the contamination.

The issue to tackle the problem dates back to 2013 when the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) identified potential significant pollutant risks associated with radium on specific areas of the Dalgety Bay foreshore.

As a result, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation arm of the Ministry of Defence has been working with Fife Council, Sepa and a number of stakeholders to develop a strategy to remediate the foreshore area.

Mrs Laird said: “The residents of Dalgety Bay will, no doubt, be relieved that the work can finally get under way. I am pleased that the planning committee heard about the extensive consultation addressing environmental protection and gaining the cooperation of land owners.”

Mrs Laird also welcomed the decisions taken to restrict hours of work to 8am to 6pm during the week and that the bulk of the materials required will be brought in by barge rather than road. But she added: “Of course, communication with local residents throughout the work is crucial, as is the opportunity for people to raise any concerns they may have as the work progresses.”