Dounreay’s iconic reactor set for London museum

Dounreay atomic energy plant. Picture: PA

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) last week revealed their intention to move the structure however politicians and groups associated with the plant have called for the move to be put on hold until after a consultation is held.

MP John Thurso has written NDA chairman Stephen Henwood asking for an explanation on why groups were not informed and is leading the calls for a rethink.

He believes the planned national nuclear archive (NNA) in Wick would be the obvious place for the control room to be relocated.

“There has not been a single person in the community who even had an inkling this decision was in the offing,” he said.

“To my mind, it is unfair to make such a decision without one word of consultation with the community.

“We should bid for the control room to be kept up here.”

Dounreay Stakeholder Group (DSG) has had discussions with site licence company DSRL about the issue and is unhappy to have not been consulted before the decision was taken about where the control room is to end up.

Mr Thurso added: “Caithness has hosted Dounreay for almost 60 years. We’ve earned the right to play a full partner in its decommissioning and have a say in the artefacts that will remain here.

“I’m not saying nothing should leave the county, but it’s for us to be part of the discussion, not for the NDA just to dream up a decision with no consultation.

“It is a massive own goal by NDA that was wholly unnecessary.”

Construction

The experimental fast breeder reactor at Dounreay led British research and development of nuclear energy during the 1950s and the 60s.

Housed inside a steel sphere, it was built between 1955 and 1958 to test the concept, and became the first fast reactor in the world to provide electricity to a national grid in 1962.

Its 14MW output was enough to power a small town like Thurso. However it finally closed down in 1977.

The NDA responded by saying the NNA would not have room to display the DFR control room.

A spokesman said: “The NDA was asked whether the NNA could accommodate the control room and unfortunately it is not possible to house it there due to the sheer scale.

“We are sensitive to the desire to see artefacts stay in Caithness but there are practical limitations for some artefacts, and a consideration whether they have the same heritage value if broken up.

“Being considerably smaller the DMTR (Dounreay Materials Test Reactor) control room will be retained in its entirety in Caithness Horizons.

“We expect DSRL, who have responsibility for the heritage strategy, to continue to engage with the community.”

DSG chairman David Flear dismissed the suggestion there would be no room in the NNA for the control room, stating planning permission had yet to be given and the building could be made to accommodate it.

Along with John Thurso, he is angry the community had not been consulted and called for the decision to be put on hold.

“Now we have confirmed the NNA will be built, members of the public believe this is where it should be,” he said.

“It is essential the decision is put on hold until the community has been consulted – it is the minimum they should expect to happen.

“The NNA hasn’t gone for planning permission yet, we could have found time and space to include it in.

“It’s an iconic piece of equipment – people have worked in that environment for years and they have come to me saying it should not be leaving the county.”

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