TWO reactors at Hunterston B dogged by safety concerns have restarted for the final time ahead of the start of their decommissioning later this year.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation has given permission to energy giant EDF to run 44-year-old reactors three and four for approximately six months.

The station’s safety case for restarting the reactors for one final time has been heavily scrutinised by the ONR.

The assessment particularly focussed on whether cracking observed in the reactor core could compromise nuclear safety requirements.

These include the need to safely shutdown the reactors during normal conditions or during or following fault conditions including seismic events.

Campaigners have condemned the move to restart operations, warning that public heath is being put at risk. They are calling for the plant to be permanently closed down now.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation concluded that EDF had demonstrated that the reactors were able to operate safely for a further six months.

It said that inspectors were satisfied that sufficient safety margins were in place to 'ensure the safety of Hunterston B workers, local residents and the wider public'.

Donald Urquhart is the ONR’s Executive Director of Operations and Deputy Chief Inspector.

He said: “Our specialist inspectors scrutinise each safety case in great detail to ensure the safety of workers, local residents and wider public.

“As the UK’s independent nuclear regulator, we will only allow nuclear facilities to operate if we are satisfied that it is safe to do so.

“I am satisfied that the evidence provided by EDF, which has been assessed by our team of specialist inspectors, demonstrates that Hunterston B’s Reactors three and four are able to operate and shutdown safely during this period of operation.”

Local elected members say the time to look at creating alternative employment opportunities in the area is now.

Councillor Alex Gallagher, of the ruling Labour administration, warned that the highly-skilled jobs at the site will be hard to replicate elsewhere in North Ayrshire.

He said: “This was the agreed strategy before a full shutdown of the reactor and it is good to see that the plan has been kept.

“We must keep in mind that Hunterston is a big employer in the area and we must make sure we replace those jobs with ones of equal value.”

Independent councillor Ian Murdoch says he is hoping that all rules and regulations have been met to allow the power station to resume safely for a final time.

He added: “I just hope they’ve got it right this time as it’s not an exact science and is all done on modelling - and they don’t inspect the whole of the reactor.

“I accept that there are experts who work at the power station that have faith in it, all I can do is the best to protect my constituents.

“I have every sympathy for people that may lose their jobs, but I’ve been assured there won’t be mass redundancies.

“My concern is that my constituents are being kept safe and I hope that the decision they have made is the right one.”

Conservative councillor Todd Ferguson added: “Like it or loathe it, nobody can deny that Hunterston has provided wonderful employment opportunities and has been a benefit to local businesses and services.

“While there is still decommissioning work ahead of us, it will be extremely challenging to replicate the opportunities created by the plant in North Ayrshire and the west coast of Scotland.

“There is no doubt that the site has operated longer than it should have and the decision to take it offline early is one I have supported.

“The fact that it has been able to generate low carbon electricity for an extended lifespan is entirely down to the professional and dedicated staff at Hunterston.”