Caithness.org News Bulletins

The first major construction project for the newly formed Major Projects and Engineering Division of UKAEA has been awarded to Highland-based, R J McLeod (Contractors) Ltd for the construction of a new police command and control  building  at  Dounreay. 

The project represents in the region of a £4M investment by the UKAEA.

The  new  centre  will  bring under one roof a number of services currently provided  by  the  UKAEA  Constabulary  from several different locations at Dounreay.

Work will start in March 2003 and the new  facility is expected to be complete by March 2004 and will create 60 jobs during its construction.

A spokesman for R J MacLeod said "We are delighted to have this major construction job at Dounreay".  R J MacLeod contractors already have several smaller contracts at the site.

Dounreay  site director and UKAEA Police Authority member Peter Welsh said, "A   new  police  command  and  control  facility  was  one  of  the  major construction  projects  required  to  support the Dounreay Site Restoration Plan.   While  our  work  now is all about restoring the environment of the site, this project is recognition of the continuing importance we attach to the  security  of  the  site  as  we  make  progress on decommissioning and environmental  restoration.  I am sure that the new facilities will help to maintain the highly professional service that the Constabulary provides."

UKAEAC Chief Constable, Bill Pryke added, "I am delighted by the support we have  had  from  the Dounreay site team in moving ahead with this important project  for  the  Constabulary.  It  is an excellent example of us working together  in  partnership  to progress the environmental restoration of the site while maintaining high standards of security."

Mr  Neil  Money,  director  of  the  decommissioning strategy task force at Highlands  and  Islands  Enterprise, said: "The contract for the new police command  centre  underlines  that  much  of  the  work originating from the Dounreay  site  will  require  the  application of traditional construction
skills  rather than a knowledge of hi-tec processes.  I am delighted that R J  McLeod  have  won this contract and demonstrated that Highland companies can compete successfully against stiff external opposition."

UKAEA is currently spending £140-150 million per annum on the decommissioning and site restoration of Dounreay. The amount of work let in contracts in recent years has increased to £95 million per annum.   UKAEA expects this figure to remain high during the major period of activity associated with the first phase of the site restoration plan over the next decade or so. Decommissioning of Dounreay is currently worth approximately £75 million per annum to the economy of the Highlands.

The UKAEA Constabulary is responsible for the security of the sites operated in the UK by UKAEA, BNFL and URENCO, and escorts nuclear materials in transit. It has a total complement of 570 officers. Under legislation proposed by the Government, the force is to be reconstituted as theindependent Civil Nuclear Police.

The Dounreay Site Restoration Plan was published by UKAEA in October 2000. It can be viewed at www.ukaea.org.uk.