Fife’s fury over Mossmorran

Councillors refuse to take no for an answer over probe

Frustrated Fife councillors representing residents who say their lives are being made a misery by a chemical plant have refused to take no for an answer after their call for an independent inquiry was rebuffed.

Elected members who have continuing concerns about the impact flaring from the Fife Ethylene Plant at Mossmorran has on communities have turned their ire on the Scottish Government following Cabinet Secretary Roseanna Cunningham’s refusal to initiate a formal probe at this stage.

Ms Cunningham argued such a move could prejudice any enforcement action the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) might take, although she said an independent inquiry “remains an option”.

However, Fife Council has now passed an emergency motion to condemn that response as “unacceptable” and has once more underlined its demand for an urgent review into the environmental, health and social impacts of flaring.

The news comes as plant operator ExxonMobil confirmed another period of elevated flaring will start today as a result of essential maintenance and could last up to five days.

Fife councillors say they refuse to take no for an answer after the Scottish Government knocked back a request for an immediate independent inquiry into the impact of flaring at Mossmorran.

Six days of unplanned flaring in April provoked more than 900 complaints from locals about the impact on their health, and other incidents in the weeks since have sparked further concerns.

A motion was passed by Fife Council in May requesting the Scottish Government to commission an independent expert study of the impact on the surrounding communities of the operations of the plant.

However, councillors have learned Roseanna Cunningham has stopped short of that commitment – sparking fury among many elected members.

The environment, climate change and land reform minister insists the Scottish Government takes the matter “extremely seriously”, and was “clear that the levels of unplanned flaring at the site are unacceptable”.

Despite that, she feels commissioning a study would be “premature” as it could prejudice any enforcement action the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) might take, although she conceded an independent study “remains an option”.

An emergency motion has been passed by councillors forcing co-leaders David Ross and David Alexander to write back to Ms Cunningham and reiterate Fife’s demand for the probe requested.

Labour councillor Linda Erskine brought forward the motion.

“I know those constituents we represent will not be satisfied and the promise of an independent study remaining an option at some indeterminate time in the future is not a real commitment,” she said.

“It simply isn’t good enough.” Cowdenbeath colleague Councillor Alex Campbell added: “I think the minister has underestimated the anxiety and the concerns of the communities and I was certainly expecting a far better response.”

Mr Ross was “disappointed” with the outcome, but Mr Alexander highlighted the efforts of agencies including Sepa and NHS Fife thus far.

“All of the regulatory functions are happening in Fife and the tone of the letter tells me that if they (the Scottish Government) need to come in, they will come in,” he said.

Mr Alexander urged all parties to tone down their language, just days after campaigners warned Fife could suffer “another Bhopal”. He said: “Until we get decent information, we should keep the language pretty reasonable.”

I was certainly expecting a far better response. ALEX CAMPBELL

Residents living in the lee of the Mossmorran plant in Fife are demanding answers. Time and again in recent months the plant’s operators Exxon Mobil have had to flare off excess gas.

Concerned residents have reported their door frames shaking and windows rattling as the flaring takes place, often over an extended period.

Unplanned flaring in the spring sparked hundreds of complaints and calls for the government to initiate an independent inquiry into the site.

Mossmorran has continued to be dogged by issues since, with an ethane leak discovered at the site in late May and further unplanned flaring last month.

Councillors have now renewed pressure on the Scottish Government to order an independent inquiry – a call that came as it emerged the site would be the subject of further unscheduled flaring this week.

Cabinet Secretary Roseanna Cunningham has so far resisted setting up an independent probe.

She is concerned that such action could prejudice any enforcement action environmental watchdog Sepa may be planning.

However, the deeply held convictions of members of the local community should not be lightly dismissed.

Residents should be able to live safe and secure in their own homes. If an independent inquiry is the only way to achieve that goal, then so be it.

Picture: Steve Brown. Fife councillors want more to be done to address flaring at Mossmorran.