Part Two of Two Parts (Please read Part One first)
Politicians who oppose the shipments are raising rejections in legislative bodies in the area and working to educate the public to the dangers. Paul Monaghan, the SNP MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, said that “We now know from these documents released by HIAL that the US company AECOM has estimated that there are significant deficiencies in the structure and surface of the runway at Wick, which is not considered sufficient for the safe operation of these aircraft. The NDA (Nuclear Decommissioning Authority) and the U.K. government are using Wick John O’Groats airport in circumstances that are completely inappropriate and highly unsafe. I have written again to the U.K. government asking why these uranium movements are necessary, and why safety is being compromised."
John Finnie MSP, transport spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, asked that the shipments be suspended. He remarked that “The public will rightly be alarmed by this disclosure. It clearly suggests that no legitimate risk assessment has been undertaken and a lower standard is being applied simply because of what the cargo is. I intend raising this matter in the Scottish Parliament."
Dr. Donald Dixon, the director of Friends of the Earth Scotland said that, "It is almost beyond belief that these flights are using a runway that is not fit for purpose. Gambling against the horrific consequences of one of these flights crashing is bad enough but vastly increasing the risk of a crash by using an unsuitable airport is almost too stupid to believe. Whoever thought this was an acceptable plan should lose their job and these flights should be banned immediately.”
Tor Justad, chairperson of the campaign group Highlands Against Nuclear Transport, has demanded an “absolute assurance” that the C-17 aircraft would not damage the runway or suffer an accident. "Safety standards are being compromised to allow the uranium flights to go ahead," he said.
Highland and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) is a public company that is owned by Scottish ministers that operates the airport at Wick. To date, they have not directly answered questions about the ability of the runway there to handle C-17s. They have stated that "The runway at Wick complies with current industry standards and specific areas were strengthened in late summer 2016 specifically to accommodate a limited number of movements by large aircraft such as the C-17. Inspections are regularly carried out in accordance with normal airport operating procedures. No damage has been found. HIAL has no comment on specific aircraft movements. Safety has not been compromised in any way. All permitted movements at Wick John O’Groats Airport comply with the operating protocols and requirements of the airport.”
The NDA stated that it had commissioned a report on the suitability of the airport at Wick for the shipping of nuclear materials. They said that the report had pointed out needed improvements and that "These improvements were carried out successfully, and the airport now meets the required criteria for safe and secure transportation of nuclear material. The removal of nuclear material from Dounreay is ongoing, and it is the priority at all times to comply with regulations governing safety and security. This includes protecting information about ongoing operational activities."
The citizens of Wick are justifiably concerned about the dangers posed to their community by these shipments. It does not appear that they will reap any practical benefit for the risks that they will suffer.
Wick John O'Groats Airport:
