Councillors approve plans for contaminated soil treatment plant at Lugton

Jun 26 2009 by Stef Lach, Kilmarnock Standard

COUNCILLORS approved plans for a contaminated soil treatment plant – but only after having a private 15-minute discussion with their legal experts.

At last week’s meeting of East Ayrshire Council’s Northern Local Planning Committee in Dunlop Public Hall, councillors approved an application by William Tracey Ltd to use vacant land at Dunniflats, Lugton, for treating contaminated soils brought in from other sites.

Objectors from both Dunlop and Lugton Community Council and Stewarton Community Council had previously raised concerns over the amount of lorry traffic the plant would create, as well as claiming the move would violate the council’s own policy that contaminated soils should be treated as close to source as possible.

The decision had been continued at a previous meeting of the Northern Local Planning Committee after Councillor Douglas Reid asked for further investigation into the traffic implications.

At last week’s meeting, Councillor John McGhee called for a condition to be added to the application that would officially restrict William Tracey from using anything other than A-class roads both in and out of the plant.

But officers and legal experts advised the committee that such an condition would be impossible to police. After a series of back and forward discussions on the matter, chair John Campbell called for a “10-minute recess”.

Fifteen minutes later the committee returned to their seats and decided to approve the application with a condition that a liaison committee be set up which would require William Tracey Ltd to discuss their plans for the next three months’ traffic control and review the previous three months.

Councillor Tom Cook explained: “The liaison committee will consist of councillors and local residents and will meet every three months with the traffic concerns being a standing issue at each meeting.

“William Tracey Ltd will have to set out their plans for the next three months in regards to movement of traffic as well as review the previous three months’ traffic.”

Jim Miller, secretary of the Dunlop and Lugton Community Council was disappointed with the decision and the way in which it was taken.

He said: “Councillor McGhee made good arguments but was shouted down by the officers and legal experts at every turn. Then they took the meeting to a private room.

“When they came back they were meek as lambs and approved the plans with this condition about a liaison committee.

“They never asked us about any liaison committee and I think they’ve basically given William Tracey Ltd carte blanche to do what they like.

“What power will a liaison committee have? None at all.

“All the councillors seemed concerned with was the flow of traffic and the potential damage to the roads.

“What about the potential danger to children who live in Lugton caused by the lorries and the nature of the contaminated soil that would be passing by in lorries all day long?”