Incinerator 'makes residents ill'

Residents said complaints about the plant had been ignored

Residents in Brechin have claimed an animal incineration plant is releasing smells which are causing sickness in the local community.

Politicians and community leaders are now demanding that urgent action is taken against the Sacone Environmental Plant.

They said the smell had become so bad that workers have asked to leave the town's shops and library.

When contacted by the BBC the company said no-one was available for comment.

The claims were made to Holyrood's public petitions committee by resident David Adam and Angus councillor Joy Mowatt.

Their petition called on the parliament to consider and debate animal gasification plants such as the one used by Sacone.

Mr Adam claimed the smell of burning animal carcasses and frequent accidental fires are ruining the lives of those who live nearby.

I think there is a very good case for a comprehensive assessment of the operation of this plant because I don't think it is fit for purpose John Swinney SNP MSP

He also criticised the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa), which has overseen a series of modifications at the plant, of failing to do enough to tackle the problem.

He said residents had lost confidence in the agency and claimed that of 42 complaints made to the agency in September only two were upheld because officers are based too far away to monitor the situation.

"I think what they are trying to do is an old Scottish phrase, trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's lug, and it's just not working and we need something done about it," he said.

Technical changes

He was backed by his MSP John Swinney who said problems were at their worst during hot weather last summer.

Mr Swinney met officials from the plant and Sepa in August and secured a series of technical changes he thought would take about three months to implement.

But he said he was dismayed when the plant reopened just days later and claimed Sepa broke a number of promises to solve the problem.

The North Tayside MSP said: "I think there is a very good case for a comprehensive assessment of the operation of this plant because I don't think it is fit for purpose."

John Swinney met with officials from Sepa and the plant

The committee agreed to continue the petition and contact the executive and the other bodies involved to find out more about the problem.

A Sepa spokeswoman said no complaints about the plant had been received until March this year.

"However, from March onwards, SEPA began receiving complaints about offensive odours, periodic emissions of smoke and an occasional visible plume from the main stack," she said.

"Sepa has responded timeously to each of these complaints and the subsequent investigations led to Sepa taking action in accordance with its published enforcement policy."

She said Sacone complied fully with enforcement notices issued in May, June and August.

But she added that two incidents, which occurred on 20 and 25 October, continue to be the subject of a formal investigation.

"At this stage, SEPA cannot rule out reporting these matters to the procurator fiscal recommending prosecution," she said.