Biomass consultation extended

A planning consultation for a controversial biomass plant in Glenrothes is to be extended because of technical problems.

Members of the public contacted The Courier to say they had been unable to leave comments on Fife Council’s planning portal website regarding the application on the town’s Southfield Industrial Estate.

Fife Council confirmed the website had been down last weekend, with the deadline for public comments, originally meant to close on Saturday, now extended to Tuesday.

Glenrothes Biomass Energy, a subsidiary of Londonbased Sainc Energy Ltd, has submitted proposals to construct a plant, including a 60m stack, at a vacant site off Whitworth Road. With a lifespan of 25 years, the plant would burn wood chips to produce power and would be capable of supporting up to 64 full-time jobs.

However, the proposals have been met with anger from local householders, with more than 100 gathering at the Exit Community Centre on Tuesday night to voice their concerns.

Tracy Thomson, who has started a Facebook group for concerned residents, said: “My main concern was that the community did not seem to know about this.

“Whether people agree or disagree with it is up to them, but people have the right to know what is going on.”

More than 120 objections have already been submitted.