Dounreay chiefs confirm plan for robots to tackle clean-up of seabed

A £25 MILLION plan to use robots to clean up the worst of the radioactive particles from the seabed near Dounreay was unveiled yesterday amid claims such measures were long overdue.

The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) confirmed its preferred way to tackle the problem that has plagued the Caithness nuclear complex for nearly a quarter of a century.

After a major consultation lasting more than two years, it is proposed to remove the most hazardous offshore particles while continuing to monitor and recover those found at beaches around the base.

At present UKAEA recovers the so-called hotspots from beaches, but monitors those on the seabed without removing them.

If the preferred option is approved after a further 12-week consultation, the recovery operation will start next year.