Abernethy residents at Binn incinerator meeting

Feb 9 2010 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

PERTHSHIRE villagers living close to the Ochil Hills yesterday reacted angrily to plans to extend waste disposal operations in the area.

A packed meeting in Abernethy’s Masonic Hall heard representatives from SITA UK, the company which runs the Binn Farm operation, explain their plans to create a polytunnel fruit and vegetable growing operation over 144 hectares, harnessing heat from its planned waste to energy plant.

Planning permission for the hugely controversial incinerator was granted by Perth and Kinross Council in December, 2006.

But a spokesperson for Abernethy Action Group voiced deep concerns over a number of issues relating not only to SITA’s proposals but also to the existing landfill operation at Binn, Glenfarg.

He also highlighted the lack of trust between the community and SITA.

Noxious smells have regularly enveloped Abernethy since the Binn landfill site was created some 15 years ago.

It is SITA’s lack of action over this highly contentious issue which the spokesman stressed led to suspicions over its plans for future development at the Binn.

“SITA cannot even run a hole in the ground, so why should the same company be allowed to run an incinerator?” questioned the spokesman.

“There is no trust. For all these years we have had problems with the landfill and nothing changes. In fact on Wednesday morning the smell in parts of the village was particularly bad.”

Echoing the action group spokesman’s criticism, another Abernethy resident who attended the meeting commented: “The landfill has been there for 15 years and we have been told since the first year that the smell problem would be solved.

“That has not happened. The stink is not nice but there are also fears of its toxic effects, especially on children.

“Now the company is going to operate an incinerator, which is in the process of getting a licence.

“But to get that licence they have comply with new legislation to harness heat from an incinerator. That is why they are planning the polytunnels.

“We do not think industry and agriculture so close together is a good idea. Nobody at the meeting said they would eat food grown in the shadow of an incinerator.”

The Abernethy Action Group spokesperson urged concerned members of the public to express their views when the polytunnels planning application is submitted to Perth and Kinross Council – this is expected to be in around four to six weeks according to the SITA representatives.