Nuclear bosses have knocked back a bid by Hunterston site stakeholders group (SSG) to witness an emergency exercise being carried out at the ‘B’ station.

Interest had been shown by members of the forum in attending one of the exercises at the station to examine at close hand the potential scenario, and actions carried out by staff at the EDF plant, to prepare against all eventualities. The matter had been raised at the quarterly meeting of the stakeholders’ group which is run by community council representatives and acts as a liaison to nuclear management, regulators, neighbouring landowners, and emergency services. They met recently at Seamill Hydro to discuss possible participation but the move has been ruled out due to safety and security in rolling out the procedures.

Chairman of the stakeholders group, Rita Holmes of Fairlie Community Council said that she felt that the SSG should have a presence at one of the emergency planning procedures.

However, Mr John Morrison, deputising for station director Colin Weir of Hunterston ‘B’ power station said while it was a good idea, it was impractical for what was a serious exercise which needed the full concentration of all site staff without interference.

He explained: “It is a very busy time and well organised and having others there isn’t really the right thing fo rthe staff carrying the exercises. We can’t stop in the middle of doing an important exercise during an industrial scenario – it is just something we can’t do.” Malek Ghannad of the Office of Nuclear Regulation stated that they observe the emergency scenarios which were played out at Hunterston which were wide-ranging, and each exercise was different, in order to prepare staff vigorously for all manner of outcomes. He said he wouldn’t want to personally comment on SSG involvment in the emergency exercises but said that the procedures put in place were for very different scenarios which were chosen ‘very carefully’ to best demonstrate all possible hazards which could befall a nuclear power plant.

Mr Ghannad also said that Hunterston ‘B’ was top of the league in terms of safety issues in relation to EDF plants around the UK, and Mr Morrison stated that a recent delegation had visited from Sellafield to examine at close quarters the safety arrangements in place at the site.