AN environmental survey has been sent out to the Largs, Fairlie and Millport residents looking for details on people's lifestyle changes during the Covid-19 pandemic in relation to living near a nuclear power station.

The study has been set up by scientists from the University of Stirling on behalf of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

A total of 7,000 letters were distributed to a random selection of the community.

Scientists from the University of Stirling are undertaking a Covid-19 Habits Survey around the Scottish nuclear licensed sites on behalf of SEPA.

This survey is to determine whether the period of Covid-19 lockdown has had any significant change upon the habits of individuals living near to places like Hunterston.

Rita Holmes, who is chair of Fairlie Community Council, and heads the Hunterston Site Stakeholders nuclear liaison group, said: "It is good to see that the Scottish Environment Protection Agency are carrying out more monitoring. During lockdown people's habits have changed and a lot more of us have been using the beaches, with a lot of kayakers and swimmers in the sea.

"I would encourage people to fill out the survey. It is good to see that SEPA are on the ball and have considered extra monitoring near nuclear licensed sites. It makes sense as more people are staying at home and not going to offices, or abroad on holiday, so it is sensible to monitor the situation when the area is now busier."

A SEPA spokesperson said: “SEPA’s appointed contractors undertake surveys around Hunterston every five years to collect data on public habits.

“The results inform our environmental monitoring programme, an annual programme to collect data on the concentrations of radioactivity in food and the environment, ensuring the sampling programme targets the right locations and foodstuffs and at the right frequency.

“While any change to people’s habits is likely to have a very small impact and any dose will remain less than the legal limits on exposure, it is important that any differences – such as eating more or less locally caught seafood or game, or an area of land being used more often – are assessed so that SEPA can ensure that we are fulfilling our legal duties appropriately.

“Surveys are focussed on people living in areas adjacent to Hunterston. The survey team will also be writing directly to 7,000 randomly selected households.

“Our monitoring continues to demonstrate that Scotland’s communities are appropriately protected against sources of radioactivity that could impact on our food and the wider natural environment. It’s important we understand if there have been any changes in diet and activities so that our monitoring remains representative in local areas, and provides accurate data that we can continue to provide reassurance to the public using realistic assessments.”

The survey can be accessed here: https://rb.gy/7u9jdn