SCOTTISH CND has raised further safety concerns about a nuclear reactor in Scotland which is set to restart operations.

Regulators have given permission for reactor three at the Hunterston power station in Ayrshire to resume operations for six months despite more than 350 cracks in the graphite bricks.

Owners EDF Energy have said that they will apply for permissions to extend this to a second six months, with operations to shut down in 2021. 

The reactor had been closed since March 2018 because of safety warnings, with the site now operating 14 years beyond its anticipated lifespan.

Hundreds of jobs could be lost when work at the plant ends, with decommissioning expected to begin in 2022.

But environmental campaigners have hit out at plans to restart work at Hunterston.

CND said that the decision was “extraordinary,” while Friends of the Earth and UN House Scotland called for immediate closure. 

In a statement online, Scottish CND said: “It is extraordinary that reactor three of Hunterston B nuclear power station is being declared as ‘safe’ enough to restart.

“Remember that the majority of the Scottish population live in the central belt to the west of Hunterston and would be likely to be under the plume of radiation should there be a significant accident.”

The group have now said there must be government intervention to end use of the Ayrshire reactor.

Scottish CND added: “We are alarmed that the office for nuclear regulation says Hunterston B3 nuclear reactor is safe to restart, in spite of serious core cracking.”