Anger as smell set to continue from Fife landfill

A cap was supposed to be put on a landfill cell on Monday. However, Fife Resource Solutions, which operates the sites, was given permission by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) for an extension until April 13 because of the recent adverse weather.

This was despite calls from Lib Dem MP Wendy Chamberlain and MSP Willie Rennie for the extension bid to be turned down, with the pair arguing that Fife Resource Solutions had been given enough time to improve the situation.

Some residents have even fled their homes to stay with friends out of the area because of the smell in recent weeks.

“Local people will be angry with this delay,” said Mr Rennie. “It will mean they have to endure the suffocating stink for even longer.

“Surely it was predictable that it would rain and be windy in the winter so the council and refsol should have planned for this. We need a proper solution as people have just had enough.”

Robin Baird, chief operating officer at Fife Resource Solutions, said: “We appreciate that the local community would like to see this work finished as soon as possible, and so would we.

“The unprecedented wet weather and violent storm which we had recently meant that work could not safely be carried out during that period.

“We will be doing what we can to accelerate work to make up for the lost time.

“This time extension is necessary, however, to make sure that the work is still carried out to the highest standard.”

A spokesperson for SEPA said: “Compliance is non-negotiable and in response to complaints, we’re taking firm enforcement action against the operator including an enforcement notice detailing the actions required to urgently bring the site to compliance.

“We recognise that some of the landfill engineering work is weather dependant and given the recent period of prolonged severe weather, we’ve accepted a new deadline of April 13.”

A new campaign was launched by residents living in the villages around the landfill site last year, calling for action to be taken that would stop the smell. Signs have been placed next to roads throughout the area and a Facebook page has been set up, inviting other frustrated residents to share their complaints.