The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Dairy brands MSP’ s claims ‘uninformed’
Graham’s Dairy has described a Green MSP’s comments as “irresponsible and uninformed” after he branded the company a “nightmare neighbour”.
Scottish Green MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife Mark Ruskell said the company’s site at Glenfield Industrial Estate in Cowdenbeath is causing “misery” for local residents because of noise nuisance.
The Glenfield facility is subject to a planning application for a bioenergy plant. It would use whey from the production of cheese to generate heat and power to fuel operations on site.
More than 300 letters of objection have been submitted in relation to the plans, including from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
The zero-carbon system would be a first for the dairy industry in Scotland and is aimed at cutting emissions in line with Scottish Government requirements.
But people living metres from the site fear it will be noisy, smell and will affect their health.
They have called on Fife Council to reject the plans.
Council service manager Linda Turner said the authority was investigating noise levels from Glenfield.
“Any new planning applications relating to the site would consider any noise implications relating to those proposals,” she added.
But Mr Ruskell said the council could do more to
resolve the dispute with residents.
“For over a year now, frequent low level noise from the Graham’s facility at the Glenfield Industrial Estate has been causing a misery for people living in neighbouring properties,” said the MSP.
“Fife Council has recognised the problem constitutes a statutory
nuisance, but months after an abatement notice was issued the noise is still continuing.”
Robert Graham, managing director for Graham’s The Family Dairy, said: “Mark Ruskell’s irresponsible and uninformed comments put Fife jobs and livelihoods at risk.
“Mark’s apparent
disinterest in our local economy is reflected in the inaccuracies of his comments.
“Glenfield operates in full compliance with environmental standards. Furthermore, we have and will continue to work with Fife Council officials and our local councillor in addressing local issues as they arise.”