Saturday 19 May 2012

Potentially contaminated RAF Sites in Scotland.

The Secret Scotland web site provides a good indication of number of sites that the  MOD own or once owned in Scotland. 

Whilst there has been considerable publicity about radioactive contamination other contaminates that may be present include  chemical weapons, heavy metals, asbestos, organic solvents and  ordnance.  It is also notable that Gruinard island in Scotland was the site of a biological warfare test by British military scientists from Porton Down in 1942, during the Second World War. Starting in 1986 a determined effort was made to decontaminate the island.

I believe it 's the MODs social and legal responsibility to identify contamination including radioactivity and the consequent risks to man and the environment at these sites and proactively make this information available online.  In fact there is a stautory duty in the Environmental Infomation Regulations that requires authorities to :-

"(a)  progressively make the information available to the public by electronic means which are easily accessible; and

(b) take reasonable steps to organize the information relevant to its functions with a view to the active and systematic dissemination to the public of the information."


The list below taken from the "Secret Scotland" website lists some of the RAF stations in Scotland.  The list provides a good indication of the scale of the defence estate past and present.
.
RAF 13 Group Stations
RAF Airfields Clyde
RAF Alness
RAF Annan
RAF Ayr
RAF Balado Bridge
RAF Banff
RAF Benbecula
RAF Bishopbriggs
RAF Black Isle
RAF Brackla
RAF Buchan
RAF Castle Kennedy
RAF Connel
RAF Donibristle  (Dalgety Bay)
RAF Dornoch
RAF Drem
RAF Dumfries
RAF Dundonald
RAF Edzell
RAF Elgin
RAF Errol
RAF Findo Gask
RAF Fullarton
RAF Gailes
RAF Grangemouth
RAF Greenock
RAF Grimsetter
RAF Invergordon
RAF Kirknewton
RAF Kirkton
RAF Kirkwall
RAF Leuchars
RAF Lossiemouth
RAF Machrihanish
RAF Macmerry
RAF Milltown
RAF Montrose
RAF Oban
RAF Peterhead
RAF Pitreavie
RAF Prestwick
RAF Skeabrae
RAF Tain
RAF Tealing
RAF Tiree
RAF Turnberry
RAF Turnhouse
RAF West Freugh
RAF Wick
RAF Wigtown

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