UPDATE: 6th June – response from Scottish Government see below
SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT
WRITTEN ANSWER
6 June 2019
Index Heading: Economy
Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in finding a solution in relation to the removal of waste materials dumped at the M90 Commerce Park at Lathalmond in Fife.
S5W-23412
Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has advised that it met with the landowner in December 2018 to discuss possible clearance of the material from the site. During this meeting the landowner expressed a willingness to explore options for removal of the waste from the Lathalmond site. A further meeting is expected to take place in June 2019 to discuss potential options and costs and to decide if how the matter can be progressed further.
SEPA will continue to monitor the site and are in ongoing dialogue with Fife Council regarding this matter.
I have written to the Scottish Government and to all west Fife elected representatives regarding the ongoing clean-up issue of the festering piles of illegally dumped waste in the M90 Commerce Park at Lathalmond.
I raised the issue previously with the Scottish Government, Fife Council and with SEPA, and I am now calling on all politicians to work together to push for a solution to the issue, for it has gone on too long, and needs to be resolved fully.
I have also tabled a question in the Scottish parliament asking the Scottish Government what progress they have made in finding a solution for the removal of the waste materials.
Back in 2016, two men were convicted of keeping controlled waste – approximately 3,500 tonnes of waste carpet and 3,500 tonnes of waste plasterboard – in a manner likely to cause pollution of the environment or harm to human health.
Despite convictions, and a recognition of the illegally dumped materials, there has been no progress on the removal and clean-up of the dump to date. When I last met SEPA they said they were in discussion with the owners of the site but that their powers were limited.
I have pressed the Scottish Government, SEPA and Fife Council – however action is yet to be taken. I am hoping that all elected representatives from the area can work together to try and push for this issue to be resolved.
I am asking all politicians to work together and write to the Scottish Government, SEPA and Fife Council to call for collaborative action to be taken to rid Fife of this illegal festering rubbish tip blighting the landscape once and for all.
See the video I made about the issue last year below:
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBTddho4RHk[/embedyt]
