The coronavirus pandemic cannot be an excuse for losing sight of other important issues like the environmental damage caused by Tarbolton landfill.
That’s the message from South Scotland MSP Brian Whittle MSP, who has written to the Scottish Government urging them not to put finding a solution for the abandoned landfill site on the back burner.
Since the operator of the landfill walked off the site in 2018 and went into liquidation, it has gone unmaintained with contaminated water ending up in local watercourses and uncontrolled gas emissions putting a nasty stench in the air. The site has also become a haven for giant hogweed, an invasive species whose sap can cause a burn or blindness if it gets into someone’s eyes.
Earlier this year, the Scottish Conservative MSP held a meeting with local residents, SEPA and South Ayrshire Council to discuss what the future held for the site and how it could be made safe. Since then, proposals have been drawn up to make the site safe, but SEPA, the Scottish Government and South Ayrshire Council have yet to agree who will take responsibility for the site or foot the bill.
Now, Brian has written to Scottish Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, Roseanna Cunningham, pressing the Scottish Government to inject some momentum back into the project and take urgent action to tackle the hogweed infestation and other key maintenance work.
Brian Whittle MSP said:
“It’s understandable that COVID-19 has been everyone’s focus in recent months, but we shouldn’t allow something as important as the environmental risks from Tarbolton Landfill to fall off the radar. Whatever else is happening, the site is still sitting there degrading and contaminating the area.
I’m pleased there are now options on the table to permanently resolve the problems at the landfill site, but with COVID slowing down progress, it’s even more important that there’s a clear timetable in place and that the most immediate problems are addressed now.
If the hogweed is allowed to grow unchecked and leachate ponds are allowed to overflow, we’ll see more environmental damage in the short term, and when the full works begin, it will be more expensive because the site will be in an even poorer condition.
I hope the Scottish Government will be receptive to my call to find funds for some basic site maintenance now so there isn’t more of a mess to clean up later.”
