Beach Clean Up Pledge

MP says the MOD will pay to clean up Dalgety Bay foreshore following uncertainty.

The full cost of the clean up at Dalgety Bay beach will be paid for in full by the Ministry of Defence, that's according to Gordon Brown.

The Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath MP says a new plan should be published this week, along with a timetable and a financial plan.

He's held talks with Minister for International Security Strategy Andrew Murrison, the head of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) Calum MacDonald and with Fife Council. He says he's confident that there was a breakthrough in securing support for a remediation plan at Dalgety Bay.

Brown, the MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, said:

"I expect an announcement from the Ministry of Defence this week about their future plans for remedial work.

"For four years we have been waiting for action on our proposal: that they pay for the clean up of the pollution left by the dumping of radiation particles from a burnt out aircraft at Dalgety Bay beach.

"These are delicate negotiations but I am hopeful that an amicable agreement can be reached between Fife Council and SEPA when a final report is issued setting out the clean up needed for the Dalgety Bay area.

"The whole community at Dalgety Bay, led by the community council, has worked hard to secure an agreement to ensure the clean up at the bay will happen soon and in a comprehensive way.

"We now believe we are close to an agreement, however this requires three organisations to come together; the Ministry of Defence, theScottish Environment Protection Agency, and Fife Council. And there must be an agreement on how the Ministry of Defence will finance the clean up.

"I believe we can reach an agreement later this week on a satisfactory outcome. This will allow us to consult the community and then get the clean up started very soon, hopefully during the course of the coming year."

Meanwhile, Nationalist MSP Annabel Ewing has expressed anger at a letter from the MOD which states that they believe Fife Council should pick up the costs.

Commenting, Mid Scotland and Fife SNP MSP Annabelle Ewing said: 

"This letter is just the latest in a series of insults to people in Fife from the MoD.  The UK Government's attitude on Dalgety Bay has been nothing short of disgraceful.

"People from across Fife will be wondering why the UK Government thinks that council funds - which should be spent on vital local services - should be spent clearing up the MoD's mess.

"Residents of Dalgety Bay and Fifers from across the Kingdom have been waiting decades for this mess to be cleaned up – they simply shouldn’t have to wait any longer.

"The MoD can’t keep passing the buck on this issue, the UK Government need to take responsibility and fully fund the clean-up of Dalgety Bay immediately."