EDF have scotched rumours that they wanted to bring radioactive waste from other parts of the country to Hunterston B.

Local councillor, and depute leader of North Ayrshire Council, Alan Hill, had expressed alarm that the local nuclear power site could be used for waste from other stations such as Torness.

The apparent confusion arose at the meeting of the Hunterston Stakeholders Group last Thursday when Councillor Hill heard of an application by the EDF company to gather up nuclear waste from various sites.

He issued a press statement saying that he would fight any suggestion of “turning Hunterston into a nuclear waste dump.” However, in response to enquiries by the ‘News’ a spokesperson for EDF stated: “Hunterston B nuclear power station has no plans to become a waste storage facility for other EDF Energy sites.

"This is a misinterpretation of the company’s request to SEPA. This change is purely a practical one to facilitate more flexible disposals by allowing waste to be collected temporarily at one site before being sent for disposal to an authorised facility.

“The Scottish environmental regulator SEPA authorises the routes for the disposal of low level radioactive waste from Hunterston B nuclear power station. This low level waste consists of items like industrial clothing, waste paper and cardboard, plastic, metals and oils.” French company EDF, operator of Hunterston B, has applied to SEPA for a change in the regulations which would allow this waste to be received by all suitably authorised facilities.

The spokesperson added: “This change could also lead to environmental benefits by allowing recycling or incineration through commercial treatment and disposal routes.” Councillor Hill said he was relieved to hear EDF denying the plan to bring in nuclear waste from elsewhere, and he would be concerned if SEPA had been speaking to EDF without North Ayrshire Council knowing about it.; “In North Ayrshire we depend heavily on tourism and the last thing that we need is to become a nuclear dumping ground. I am opposed to nuclear power, however I do believe that we need to accept responsibility for the waste generated at Hunterston.

"I support the Government policy of “near surface, near site”. Whilst we need to look after our own waste, I absolutely will not accept responsibility for the waste generated elsewhere." At Fairlie Community Council last week Mrs Rita Holmes, who chairs the Hunterston Stakeholders Group meeting, said she had heard that Hunterston B wanted to store waste at the Hunterston B storage site, and that waste could be transported between Torness and Hunterston.