Possible Movement by Rail of Dounreay Waste Material

The public is being asked whether it would be happy to see regular loads of lightly contaminated nuclear debris being hauled from Caithness to Cumbria. The prospect has emerged after the UK Atomic Energy Authority firmed up its plans to send regular consignments of low-level waste from Dounreay to the dump at Drigg, near the giant Sellafield reprocessing complex. It intends moving one or two lorry loads a week or a trainload once or twice a month as a temporary measure to reduce the fast-growing stockpile of waste building up at the Caithness site.

A UKAEA spokesperson yesterday said Drigg was intended as a temporary option until a longer-term solution is found. Assuming SEPA gives the go-ahead, the first load could head south towards the end of the year.

Far North MSP Jamie Stone has said he would be happy to support the movements so long as a belt and braces safety policy was implemented. He supports the use of rail to help encourage the freight trade on the Far North Line.