Welsh Backs Dounreay Community as Nuclear Decommissioning Continues

Steve Welsh pledged that Reform UK will continue to support the workforce and communities that depend on the long-running decommissioning programme. Dounreay, once the site of Britain's most advanced fast breeder reactor research programme, is now in a decades-long decommissioning phase managed by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. The site is one of the largest single employers in Caithness and its workforce makes a critical contribution to the local economy of Thurso, Wick, and surrounding communities. 'The people of Caithness built their lives around Dounreay,' said Mr Welsh. 'The decommissioning programme is a long-term commitment that provides important employment, but the community also needs certainty about what comes after.' He raised concerns about the pace of the decommissioning programme and called for greater clarity from the NDA about its long-term employment projections. He also highlighted the potential for Caithness to position itself as a centre for advanced nuclear skills and small modular reactor technology, building on the area's existing nuclear expertise. 'The nuclear skills here in Caithness are world-class. Reform UK will make sure they are deployed for the benefit of this community for generations to come.'