Recycling firm given quit notice after fly infestation
A RECYCLING firm has been ordered to stop processing waste after residents were plagued with flies.
As the Evening Times revealed earlier this year, locals in Shawhead were being pestered by insects which they believed were coming from GBS Recycling.
SEPA stepped in twice in less than a year, ordering the Coatbridge firm to control pests, but it has now served it with a revocation notice. Owner Tavis McCabe said the decision was “extremely disappointing” and he has already lodged an appeal.
However residents are overjoyed with the result, and hope it will put an end to their pest horror.
Locals complained of dozens of flies crawling on their food, on their faces and in their mouths as they slept at night.
A SEPA spokesman said: “SEPA is satisfied that allowing the operator to continue waste activities at the Shawhead facility would cause pollution of the environment or have a detrimental impact on the local community and it’s amenities.
Mr McCabe said: “The site has full planning for a waste transfer station granted the 2014 and even with the SEPA reaction in relation to the licence due to the political pressure and residents pressure the company is currently reviewing its options.
“The company has operated from that site for four years without incident and while the recent fly issue are regrettable the company did all it could to limit the impact locally of something that was out with its control.
“The company is reviewing its next steps following the outcome of appeal.”