Does Ardentinny want more nuclear waste on its doorstep?

The UK government intends to increase the number of nuclear submarines on the Clyde; is currently building a nuclear support hub to centralise its radioactive waste handling facilities and radiochemistry laboratories at Faslane; and plans to undertake submarine maintenance work at Coulport resulting in an increase of waste discharges of up to 50%.

Consequently the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has applied to SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) for approval to dispose of radioactive waste streams that could be generated at Faslane and Coulport. This HMNB Clyde application is now out to public consultation which can be found here and closes on 13 March 2020. Alternatively, consultation responses can be made in writing to SEPA no later than 6 March 2020.

As the design of SEPA’s online consultation form precludes sight of following questions until the current question is answered, we provide all the questions below along with information you may wish to consider before making a response.It is estimated that HMNB Clyde is currently discharging 5,000,000 litres x 1,000Bq = 5 billion Bq of tritium annually into the Gare Loch. If the number of submarines doubles, as planned, future discharge is also expected to double resulting in a tritium discharge of 10 billion Bq per year. *

Dangers of tritium.

Tritium is a low energy beta emitter – its particles are unable to penetrate the skin. However, it can be a radiation hazard if inhaled, ingested via food or water, or absorbed through the skin. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tritium).

Therefore the proposed increases in tritium discharge pose increased radiation risks.

The plan to make Faslane the UK base for nuclear waste disposal will not only increase the quantity and concomitant risk of nuclear waste at Faslane but also on UK’s roads over which it is transported .

It is proposed to reduce the annual rolling limit by 50%

The occasional need to transport nuclear waste by road to Faslane from Coulport increases risk to the public.

The proposal is to agree suitable routes for liquid waste disposal from Coulport to Faslane or to dispose of it as a general effluent.

The proposals see some maintenance of nuclear submarines being carried out at Coulport situated opposite Ardentinny’s sandy beach where families play in and around Loch Long. There are also visiting children and adults from Ardentinny Outdoor Centre participating in water sports on the Loch. Any additional nuclear waste in Loch Long has the potential to impact these user groups along with the loch’s flora and fauna.

Remember that the consultation closes on 13 March, 2020.

* Risk of Radiation Working Group, Scottish CND.

Click here to respond to the SEPA Consultation.

Click here to write to SEPA to oppose radioactive waste disposal from HMNB Clyde.

August 5, 2019February 28, 2026

Hiroshima and Nagasaki Commemorations

In the shadow of WMD at RNAD Coulport, we remember the hundreds of thousands of people killed by the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945.

Remembrance vigils will be held at Faslane on Tuesday 6 August and Friday 9 August; a commemorative gathering will be held at Castle Street alongside Princes Street, Edinburgh on Tuesday 6th from 6-7 p.m. and a two-minute silence will be held, followed by spoken words and a chance to float chrysanthemum petals in the River Kelvin at 6 Professors’ Square, Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow on 6 August, 1-2.30 p.m.

July 11, 2017February 28, 2026

Spirits raised at Loch Long disarmament camp

PS Waverley passes the disarmament camp today

Buoyed by the UN’s approval of a Treaty to ban nuclear weapons agreed by 122 countries on 7 July 2017, Trident Ploughshares has begun its 9-day Coulport Disarmament Camp in a celebratory mood.

With a commitment ‘to persuade the UK government to uphold the now very clear international demand to dismantle Trident’ (Jane Tallents), participants at the Ardpeaton Camp across Loch Long, will be taking part in workshops; vigils; and actions calling on the UK to sign the new treaty.

Protestors block Coulport road (Photo courtesy Trident Ploughshares/ICAN)

In a peaceful demonstration today (Tuesday), five people were arrested including 79-year-old Brian Quail, a retired teacher, after blocking the road to the Coulport facility.

February 13, 2017February 28, 2026

“No current plans to increase routine MOD police patrols”

Following media reports regarding Ministry of Defence police officers to begin patrolling civilian areas of Argyll, published last month in the Herald newspaper and Dunoon Observer, Val Kennedy, Ardentinny Community Council’s representative on the Clyde Local Liaison Committee contacted the MOD for clarification.

At last week’s Community Council meeting Val reported that some members of the Ardentinny community were concerned by the press reports. “I asked Coulport if we could have a statement which explains to us what their side of the story is because there was some suggestion by the people who came to me that there was information about increasing armed patrols and they were disturbed about this.” The MOD statement received by the Community Council is as follows:

“Ministry of Defence (MOD) police officers have historically routinely undertaken external patrols in the vicinity of HM Naval Base Clyde, which includes the Royal Naval Arms Depot at Coulport. The extent of MOD police patrol activities is covered by an agreement with Police Scotland. Responsibility for the maintenance and enforcement of the law in Scotland rests with the Chief Constable of Police Scotland. There has been no increase to routine MOD police patrols outside the two establishments during the last 24 months, although the MOD keeps security at all of its establishments under review and there are no current plans to expand these external patrols. Any proposals to increase external MOD police patrols would be agreed with Police Scotland.”

Aiden Doherty, Head of Outdoor Education at Ardentinny Outdoor Centre told the Community Council that, at a meeting with the MOD late last year, the MOD had asked for permission to use the Centre’s slipway, to which they had agreed.

On Monday 13 February two MOD police officers who had earlier disembarked from an MOD Police ‘RIB’ were seen on foot on the main Ardentinny road near Ardentinny Church.

Argyll and Bute MP Brendan O’Hara on 12 January, 2017 tabled a total of 21 questions at Westminster on the increased role of the Ministry of Defence Police within local civilian areas in and around Helensburgh and Lomond.

July 5, 2015February 28, 2026

Picnic for Peace

Despite heavy rain and a midge-infested Ardentinny beach, stalwart supporters of Argyll Against Trident (AAT) turned out for a 4th July Peace Picnic. AAT Convenor, Rob Bray explained the group’s rationale and young and older alike enjoyed a fabulous picnic, the centre piece of which was a ‘Bairns not Bombs’ chocolate cake donated by The Chocolate Tree.