NUCLEAR industry bosses have been slammed for the lack of action to replace 'eyesore' cladding on the Hunterston A building - 15 years after concerns were first raised.

The bright white cladding on the structures make it still "the most visually obtrusive building" on the Firth of Clyde coast, a meeting heard.

Former community councillor and local historian John Riddell blasted the indecision from officials on tackling the concerns during the latest meeting of the Hunterston site stakeholders group.

The cladding led to the buildings being branded the 'Hunterston Hilton at a meeting of the very same group back in September 2009.

Addressing the meeting, Mr Riddell said: “Many will recall I came to this meeting three or four meetings ago to ask why the temporary cladding on the A reactor is still in place.

(Image: Newsquest)

"For around six years before that, I have asked the same of various A directors. It is a temporary cladding, and here I am again in the middle of 2024 to ask the same questions.

“Whenever we have any new developments come forward, visual impact is taken very seriously by applicants and planning authorities.

"Yet here we are, many years after this temporary cladding was put on, years after it was agreed to re-paint it, and nothing has happened.

"Who is taking responsibility for it?”

Mark Blackley from Hunterston A said: “We have always intended to replace the current weather membrane with a metal padding.

"That was based on what was then a 'care and maintenance' programme, to essentially seal up the two reactors with this new cladding material for a period of 50 years, and it would become a safe store.

"Over a number of years a lot of work has been done across all the Magnox sites and through the NDA [Nuclear Decommissioning Authority] to look at site specific options that move away from the 'care and maintenance' model.

Visually intrusive ... John Riddell voiced frustration at lack of action on replacing temporary cladding, and was backed by community council and politicians from all sides.Visually intrusive ... John Riddell voiced frustration at lack of action on replacing temporary cladding, and was backed by community council and politicians from all sides. (Image: Newsquest)

"Because of that change of strategy, which has required quite a significant piece of work, we have been looking at a site specific strategy for Hunterston ‘A’ looking at what we would do with all the equipment within the weather membrane but outside the concrete shield of the reactor.

"A demolition survey is in progress, and that will determine what is the most appropriate thing to do.

"It may be that we will not go to a metal cladding.”

Mr Riddell responded: “I think I heard the same comments at the last meeting. You still haven’t answered the question.

"When is this temporary cladding going to be removed?

"It is the biggest visual intrusion in the whole Firth of Clyde. It is very visible from Fairlie and Millport, and we hear that another costing aspect is being looked into. Could somebody put up the money and get on with it?"

Conservative councillor Tom Marshall said: "Speaking as a former North Ayrshire planning chairman, this is a tourism area, and if you move up and down the Clyde, the first thing that hits you in the face is these white-clad buildings of the 'A' station."

"Quite frankly it is an appalling situation. Why can you not get someone with a pot of paint and go and paint it grey?"

SNP Councillor Eleanor Collier says nuclear bosses were not treating the matter seriously enough, and demanded action to replace temporary claddingSNP Councillor Eleanor Collier says nuclear bosses were not treating the matter seriously enough, and demanded action to replace temporary cladding (Image: NAC)

Largs community councillor Jamie Black said: "Every meeting goes by and this is what we are told. It just seems to roll on and on. You can't have a piece of work where there is no end date."

SNP councillor Eleanor Collier added: "It is horrific. It sticks out like a sore thumb.

"The feeling is that you want it your way and you don't want to accommodate the people who live around here. I don't think you are treating this seriously enough."

Mr Black added: "This is the one thing that people want changing. There is plenty of goodwill towards Hunterston A, but this is simply getting ignored."

David Wallace of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority said the strength of opinion from the local population would be taken on board.

He said: "I think we need to recognise there is a big problem here.

"We now need to take this back to the company and say there is real concern about this and re-emphasise the strong feelings, rather than carry on the way we are."