Council to oppose Future Plans for Dumping Nuclear Waste at Dounreay

Any plans by the Government in the future to use Dounreay, Caithness, as a national repository for nuclear waste, will be strongly opposed by The Highland Council. Convener Councillor Alison Magee and Caithness Area Convener Councillor David Flear restated the Council’s clear opposition to Dounreay being used for the deep disposal of the nation’s nuclear waste in the wake of confirmation that Dounreay was one of 12 sites on a short-list identified by UK Nirex Ltd in the mid-90s for the disposal of low and intermediate radioactive waste.

Their "stay away" message is aimed at assuring the public that the Council will oppose a nuclear waste depository coming to the Highlands and signalling to the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management, which is currently considering options to present to the Government on the long term disposal of nuclear waste, that it would not be welcome in the Highlands.

The Highland Council will be given an update at its next meeting on Thursday 23 June on proposals by the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management to identify options for a national strategy for dealing with all types of radioactive waste.

Councillor Magee said: "The former Highland Regional Council mounted an effective campaign in the early 1990s to oppose Nirex coming to Dounreay. The campaign attracted overwhelming support, not just in the Highlands, but throughout Scotland.

Seldom had one issue generated such broad-based and nationwide backing. The argument then was that we did not believe that the creation of a deep repository was the proper way to dispose of nuclear waste. With so many question marks over the safety of deep disposal, it was the view that nuclear waste should be stored above ground at the place of production. Our main concern still must be to protect the excellent environmental reputation of the Highlands."

Councillor Flear agreed. "It is important that we put down an early marker to the Government and to the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management that a concentration of nuclear waste at Dounreay will be seen as a threat to the clean safe image of the Highlands and that it is not welcome. The public can also be assured that the Council will mount the strongest possible opposition – should Dounreay again emerge as a frontrunner for this national nuclear repository."