War memorial waste eyesore
HGVs laden with landfill rubbish park at site
A scenic village monument has become an illicit holding area for trucks brimming with landfill rubbish.
HGV drivers are using the Russian Varyag warship memorial layby and pavements for overnight parking in Lendalfoot.
Shockingly human waste has been spotted in the grass beside the monument, which was paid for by the Russians. The 40- tonne articulated lorries pull up on the way to the Straid Farm tip with rubbish from Northern Ireland.
Gran- of- one Margaret Fleming, 68, said: “How can the memorial be a tourist attraction with eight HGVs there. There is human waste in the walkway. The Russians come back every year and are so proud of it. It makes me sad - if only the Russians knew? The problem came to light at a South Ayrshire Council planning meeting when landfill owners applied for permission to extend operations until 2023.
Lendalfoot resident Patrick Andrews appealed to councillors to reject the application pointing out there was no consultation.
Mr Andrews said: “The car park at the Varyag Memorial is not designed or suitable for any HGVs. It is sign posted and has become a tourist attraction.
“The offending lorries either park up taking up the whole of the designated parking areas or park on the pavement. They have caused signifcant damage and given the smell of - and leakage from - the rubbish they carry, they constitute a nuisance.”
The seafront monument marks the grounding of Russian ship Varyag.
He pointed out that the trucks also park on pavements elsewhere in the village. He described how Lendalfoot feels like a “holding area for the landfill.”
He also described the landfill extension request as a “Trojan horse” without proper consultation.
Councillor Ian Cavana said he had a “worry” this was taking place on the site of an historical monument.
He said: “I do find it disturbing that we have waste sitting overnight anywhere in South Ayrshire.”
Councillor Andy Campbell said: “Why can’t the landfill site make space for them to park there overnight?”
Alex Halber t , of Albion Environmental, representing operator Straid Farm, said he would pass the request on.
It was discussed how any crackdown on the vehicles was outwith the control of the council.
After a quick recess to consider matters, councillors agreed the landfill could operate for the next decade.
But the permission came with an “advisory note” recommending p a r k i n g b e a d d r e s s e d . The Scottish Government still has a say on the matter.