Call for NDA to invest more in 'lasting legacy' for Caithness
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A CALL has been made for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) to invest more money in Caithness to offset the job losses from the decommissioning of Dounreay.
The site needs to be treated in the same way as Sellafield in Cumbria when it comes to socio-economic funding, it was claimed at a meeting of the Dounreay Stakeholder Group (DSG) in Thurso on Wednesday night.
Members made their plea in the wake of a report by the UK's Public Accounts Committee which is responsible for overseeing government expenditure. It criticised the NDA and said it needs to do more to maximise the potential socio-economic benefits for communities.
The committee said the authority should produce a new strategy which "clearly outlines" the opportunities for local economies.
The Energy Act 2004 requires the NDA to back activities that support the social or economic life of communities affected by decommissioning.
While DSG welcomed the funding given to projects in Caithness, including the development of Wick and Scrabster harbours, it was felt more could be done to help the far north adjust to the loss of jobs at Dounreay and provide "a lasting legacy".
Highland councillor Struan Mackie (Thurso and Northwest Caithness) said the community had to make it "quite clear" what it needs.
"We need to be smarter and brighter at outlining our priorities and pushing them better and say what has to be done in the next decade or so," he said.
There is a strong case for investing in this part of the world. We have the skills and the people here.
Councillor Mackie feels that Dounreay – the largest employer in Caithness – should be treated in a similar way to Sellafield in north-west England when it comes to socio-economic funding, although he accepts it is a bigger site with a longer decommissioning programme.
"The investment in the Wick and Scrabster harbours is welcome but we need a more coherent strategy and more money coming here," he said. "The pot of money is finite and should be spent in areas which most need it.
"There is a strong case for investing in this part of the world. We have the skills and the people here."
Dounreay trade union representative John Deighan asked if the funding is in place for the proposed Sutherland spaceport.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise north area manager Eann Sinclair said the money agreed by the board last summer is "definitely there" but discussions are still taking place with the NDA on its funding.
DSG chairman Roger Saxon said every effort must be made to try and replace the jobs that will be lost by the decommissioning of the Dounreay site.
The Public Accounts Committee said progress has been made since its 2013 report but argued that, given the large sums of public money spent in areas with NDA activity, there was no clear evidence of the economic benefits for local communities.
The Dounreay site is due to be decommissioned by between 2030 and 2033.
