STIRLING COUNCIL has said that nuclear convoys are not welcome in a motion passed by a meeting last Thursday.

Such convoys frequently pass through the city and neighbouring towns, transporting nuclear warheads to and from Faslane Naval Base on the Clyde.

A recent report has shown that such convoys have seen 180 ‘mishaps’ over just a 16 year period and new analysis has mapped the potential impact that contamination from nuclear material could have in the event of any serious road accident.

The motion, originally submitted by SNP councillors, resulted in a combined amendment signed by the SNP and Labour leader.

All parties voted unanimously for the motion that called for Stirling to be a “nuclear free zone” except from the Conservative group.

SNP group leader ,and co-signatory of the motion, Councillor Scott Farmer said: “This sends out a strong message from Stirling that our local authority will no longer accept our city, towns and villages being used as transport ground for weapons of mass destruction.

"Recent reports have been damning in the number of accidents that have occurred within these convoys and the potential damage that a serious accident could have would be on par with a dirty bomb.

“Trident is not only completely immoral, but these multi-billion pound gadgets are obscenely expensive too. During a time of enforced austerity, the UK Government committing hundreds of billions to renewing the Trident system beggars belief - threatening our security and safety, rather than protecting it.

“My SNP colleagues and I will continue to make the case for having these horrific and strategically useless weapons removed from our country and I hope that this message from Stirling Council will make the Ministry of Defence think twice about carting these Cold War relics through our neighbourhoods.”