Clyde nuclear storage safety concerns

THERE are concerns that the privatised nuclear bomb store on the Clyde will not be subject to independent regulation by the country’s nuclear safety watchdog.

The Royal Naval Armaments Depot at Coulport – maintenance of which was taken over in January by a consortium of firms, led by the US arms giant Lockheed Martin – will not be licensed under the UK government’s Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).

Critics warned of a “stitch-up” between government departments over the news about the Clyde site, which is home to the Trident missile system.

However, the Ministry of Defence claimed it was still in ultimate control of Coulport and so subject to regulation by the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulation, the ONR and other bodies.

MoD nuclear sites have traditionally been exempt from nuclear safety legislation.