Secrecy in Scotland

have nuclear weapons on our doorstep, alongside the vast nuclear
infrastructure which both carries and protects them, then the absolute
minimum we should expect is that the Royal Navy, the Ministry of Defence
and the UK Government keep them safe and secure. Furthermore, we are
entitled to expect that if something untoward does happen, local people
should be informed as to exactly what has occurred, and what steps they
should take to keep safe. Unfortunately, that has not happened, and as a
recent investigation by the The Guardian and The Ferret has revealed, not
only were there 12 incidents which resulted in leaks of nuclear material
from the RNAD Coulport into Loch Long, leaks which the Scottish Environment
Protection Agency (SEPA), said had “actual or high potential for
radioactive release to the environment” but that the Royal Navy and theMinistry of Defence then desperately sought to hide that information from
the public. That the communities around Loch Long should find out about
these incidents via the work of investigative journalists is completely
unacceptable. The SEPA report is a damning indictment of both the Ministry
of Defence and the management of the Royal Navy. SEPA concluded that “The
pollution happened because the Royal Navy failed to properly maintain a
network of 1,500 pipes at the Royal Navy Armaments Depot at Coulport on
Loch Long”, and they point the finger of blame squarely at the UK
government for causing “shortfalls in maintenance”, shortfalls which
resulted in “unnecessary radioactive waste” being discharged into
Loch Long. The negligence, coupled with the subsequent cover-up, displays a
breath-taking level of arrogance and complacency, and a complete
indifference to the well-being of the people of the communities who live in
and around Loch Long.

 Helensburgh Advertiser 14th Sept 2025

 https://www.helensburghadvertiser.co.uk/news/25448242.brendan-ohara-mp-area-expects-nuclear-weapon-safety/