Residents hit out at ash dump plans in Aberdeenshire
Many of those living in homes close to Cairnrobin Quarry don't want to see ash from the proposed Tullos waste incinerator stored there - and they've been backed by Green MSP Maggie Chapman.
Residents in an Aberdeenshire community are hitting out at proposals to store ash, produced by a near-by waste incinerator, close to their homes.
Those living and working around the cairnrobin quarry, between Cove and Portlethen, have lodged their objections on plans from the company Rock Solid to use the site as a incinerator bottom ash (IBA) and incinerator bottom ash aggregates (IBAA).
The proposals are currently awaiting permission from both the Council and SEPA.
The plan would be to transport the material from the proposed incinerator in Tullos – which has also received local push back – for it to be store in the former quarry.
But residents in near-by homes have several concerns, and are being backed up by North East MSP Maggie Chapman.
James and Mabel Stewart have lived just across the railway line from the site for nearly 45 years.
They have highlighted that they fear ash would be blown over into their property – the area sits right on the coast, so experiences more than it’s fair share of windy weather.
The couple have concerns that in the worst case scenario the material could be toxic.
They are also worried about the possibility of noise pollution and even more HGVs using their small farm track road, which is littered with massive pot holes.
Their son Colin told Northsound News: “It’s such a windy area, there is going to be ash blowing
“The only way they are expecting it to not blow away is to keep it wet, wet ash will still blow because it’s so windy.
“And there’s the possibility of it being toxic, my parents are in their 70’s, they don’t need any more health issues and problems.”
Outlined in the plans the developers Rock Solid state they would dampen the material to prevent it blowing away, and there would also be monitoring processes in place to see if further precautions will be required.
But many local residents say they don’t feel as though they’ve been supplied evidence to show that will work.
Of the concerns of toxic ash, Rock Solid say in their consultation papers that the ash will be tested to ensure it’s not harmful. But residents have highlighted worries that it might first have to be transported to the site for that testing to take place.
In documents they state: "EfW is regulated through a PPC permit to test the IBA. This is a legal obligation and results have to be reported to the environmental regulator on a regular basis to confirm that the IBA characteristics remain consistent and the material is not hazardous, non-toxic to both human health and the environment."
Additionally, the firm say any issues with dust would be “minimal”. This is because the ash is dampened before leaving the incinerator site, and then covered with a canvas sheeting whilst in transit.
“There’s a lot of people around here that are quite worried.” Mr Stewart continued.
“You just need to look at the comments that went in on the application, they all say exactly the same thing.”
Scottish Green MSP for North East Scotland, Maggie Chapman, said:
"The people of Torry have been ignored, and even disparaged, by some council members across the region and now we run the risk of history repeating itself. The construction of the incinerator should not be going ahead. The proposed construction of the new dump shouldn't be going ahead either.
Residents have written to me, and I have seen the objections from local businesses, stating their concerns over potential air and water pollution, caused by the ash itself, as well as the likely increase in traffic in the area. It is time local residents’ concerns were heard."
We’ve contacted Rock Solid for further comment, meanwhile Aberdeenshire Council say it would be inappropriate to make a statement whilst the consultation process for granting permission to the developer is ongoing.