Dalgety Bay fury over new MoD ‘disrespect’

The Ministry of Defence has been accused of “repeatedly disrespecting” the public over the clean-up of toxic waste from a Fife beach.

Local politicians hit out after it emerged the MoD had failed to apply for the necessary licence to allow it to remove the contamination at the Fife coastal site.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) officers revealed to councillors last week that no application or paperwork had been received and the work was not likely to commence before 2021.

Sepa representative Nina Patton told South and West Fife area committee: “Sepa are yet to receive an application from the MoD or their contractor for a permit for the works. This would be an environmental authorisation permit, but we stand ready to receive the necessary paperwork to determine the permit as soon as we receive the submission.

“We will continue to liaise with the MoD and their contractor to ensure the appropriate permits are in place for the start of the work, which is now likely to be 2021.”

This latest twist in the 11- year saga to rid the beach of the waste comes just weeks after The Courier revealed that the MoD-commissioned work to clean up the beach at Dalgety Bay, which was originally scheduled to start in July, had now been pushed back to 2021.

The stretch of Fife coastline remains fenced off after it was found to be contaminated with hazardous radium from scrapped aircraft instrument panels.

Fife Council recently approved a three- year extension to the MoD’s existing planning conditions for the clean-up while appointed contractor, Balfour Beatty, has also applied for permission to erect a concrete processing plant in Inverkeithing, to prepare pre-cast concrete elements in advance of the mediation works.

The latest revelation angered local MP Neale Hanvey, who has written to Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.

Mr Hanvey said: “My constituents and I have learned second hand that the MoD had not even bothered to apply for the necessary licence to begin the work.

“The people of Dalgety Bay have been repeatedly disrespected by the MoD through their failure to prioritise this work. I will not allow it to go on.

“That is why I have written to the Secretary of State demanding an urgent meeting to discuss this matter and ensure the project is back on track as quickly as possible.”

Counc i l lor Dav id Barratt, who represents Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay, also hit out at the MoD.

He said: “They have a shocking attitude towards communication on this issue.”

An MoD spokesperson said : “Every effort was made to work with our partners to begin work on the removal of radiological contamination at Dalgety Bay this summer, but regrettably the application for the necessary licence to Sepa has been delayed.”