£10m to clean up radiation on Fife beach

Dalgety Bay beach was discovered to have been contaminated with radium, with the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) And the Ministry of Defence (MoD) taking lead on the clean up.

The £10.5m contract has been awarded to Balfour Beatty.
Work is not expected to begin before September.

In a statement, the MoD said it was being done on a “voluntary basis”.

Work is unable to take place during the winter months due to wading birds in the area.

The project will then recommence in April for a further six months continue until the work is complete.

The project will clear the beach of contaminant material and put a barrier in place to prevent any other material coming to the surface. The jetty and slipway will also be replaced.

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It is not known how long the project is expected to take to complete.

Steve Ritchie, DIO’s project manager, said: “Throughout this process, we have worked closely with relevant public bodies, including SEPA and Fife Council, as well as local landowners.

“We’re pleased to be able to make a start on this important work and look forward to its planned completion.”

Calum MacDonald, SEPA Executive Director, said: “Every day SEPA works to protect and enhance Scotland’s environment. We welcome the Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s announcement that the contract that will allow remediation at Dalgety Bay to begin has been awarded.”

However, local councillor David Barratt said: “Since the MoD’s unhelpful comments last year where it attempted to blame local stakeholders for delays in the project, I have taken a very active interest in the project. Having met with the sailing club together with local MP, Neale Hanvey, I know how pro-active and diligent the club has been in pursuing a start to remedial works.

“Full praise should go to the efforts of the club and others, including Moray Estates.

“It has been frustrating that the UK government and MoD have procrastinated for so many years and that it has taken significant local effort to get it to this stage.”