University rubbishes windfarm contamination claims

RENEWED CLAIMS that the proposed site of a windfarm in north-east Fife could be contaminated by radioactive debris has been described as “irresponsible, baseless and deliberate scaremongering” by St Andrews University.

The Kenly Landscape Protection Group (KLPG) have written again to Fife Council planners because they believe there is a risk that the proposed site of a university windfarm at Kenly Farm, near Boarhills, might be contaminated by radioactive aircraft debris like those behind the contamination at Dalgety Bay beach.

The Kenly site was an airfield during the Second World War and the campaigners have anecdotal evidence that aircraft might have been broken up and buried there at the end of the war.

The campaigners, who say they were “stonewalled” on the issue last year, have spoken out again following news that the Scottish Environment Protection Agency is to investigate nine Scottish sites for radioactive contamination.

While Kenly is not on SEPA’S list, campaigners believe it should be investigated.

But St Andrews University spokesman Niall Scott told The Courier that KLPG’S latest claims could cause “significant damage” to the value of Kenly as a working farm, the value of neighbouring land and properties and the confidence of people who walk across the land.

He told The Courier: “This is irresponsible, baseless and deliberate scaremongering. There is no evidence whatsoever that Kenly is contaminated with radium or any other radioactive substance, or that any debris remains under the soil from the period the land served as an airfield. It is not one of the sites recently identified by SEPA as potentially contaminated.

“This is a working farm which has been repeatedly dug to drainage depth since the late 1950s. Not a shred of evidence of radioactivity or contamination or benign debris has ever been found.

“Ground- penetrating radar has been used to survey the land and trial pits were excavated at the location of each turbine and samples examined for signs of contaminants..... there were no signs of any contamination whatsoever.”

He said all the test results have been made publicly available for months.

North East Fife MP Sir Menzies Campbell said: “Sepa should certainly make investigations where they think necessary, but it is important not to make alarming assumptions without evidence.”

KLPG chairman John Goodwin said: “It needs to be fully investigated.”

The university wants to build six 100m wind turbines and associated infrastructure on the site, which lies four miles east of St Andrews.

The RAF brought the airfield then known as Dunino Airf ield into operation in 1941 before the Royal Navy adopted it as HMS Jackdaw II in 1942 and expanded it to accommodate three squadrons and hangars for 160 aircraft.

Sir Menzies Campbell.