JUST how many more half-truths and misleading statements are the Scots expected to swallow from directors (past and present) and their spin-doctors at Dounreay?
The continuing catalogue of dangerous incidents which have taken place at this highly secretive establishment over the last 40 years is nothing short of terrifying.
It would not be so bad if the director and his predecessors had acknowledged their previous shortcomings and proceeded to ensure there were no further life-threatening mistakes, but as we have heard twice this week major ''cock-ups'' continue'' unabated.
In the first instance it would seem that the good people of Caithness since early 1996 have been subjected to Dounreay pumping out into the atmosphere 10 times more radioactive iodine, strontium, and plutonium than had been admitted hitherto.
The second incident highlighted on your front page (May 9), where the electricity supply was disrupted for some 16 hours with the potential for the worst-ever accident in the plant's history, is yet another example of an almost criminal lack of control by management.
Given the track record of Dounreay, the folks who live in Caithness and beyond must survive from day to day in constant trepidation that the next mistake at the establishment could be the catastrophic finale.
If Donald Dewar is the caring Scottish Secretary he claims to be he should now look at a damage limitation exercise, refusing any further non-Scottish importations, returning, wherever he can material from overseas when it came, and concentrate on clearing-up the unholy mess that is the Dounreay Nuclear Establishment.
Once these problems are resolved, the Dounreay scientists and their plant could be given over to investigating safe alternative sources of energy. Meanwhile with every fresh importation of radioactive material forced upon us by Westminster Government the exploitation of Scotland continues apace.
Ken Humphreys,
Pelaig,
Dingwall.
May 9.
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