Highland councillors back rail for moving nuclear fuel

A plan to move nuclear fuel from Dounreay in Caithness to Sellafield in Cumbria should involve rail transport, Highland councillors have agreed.

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has still to determine the mode of transport for material which is classed as "exotics".

It includes fuel containing highly-enriched uranium.

Highland Council's planning committee agreed it would prefer the material to be moved by rail rather than road.

Permission to shift the "exotics" would be required from the Office for Nuclear Regulation and Office for Civil Nuclear Regulation.

The NDA has welcomed the councillors' response and said it would be considered along with other feedback on the proposal.