Mossmorran meeting: Ministers decline to attend

Roseanna Cunningham, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, and Paul Wheelhouse, Enerty Minister, won’t be on the platform at Lochgelly Town Hall on Friday when Mossmorran Action group (MAG) stages its fourth meeting.

It was only announced at the start of the week, and Ms Cunningham said she had diary commitments, while Mr Wheelhouse is unable to attend.

Fife Ethylene Plant has already said it won’t be sending a representative.

The company said the meetings “do not offer a proper opportunity for reasoned and factual discussion” and it would continue with its own programme of public events.

The hosts have also invited representatives from SEPA sand HSE, and local councillors and MSPss to attend.

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News the ministers would not attend prompted a sharp rebuke from MAG.

James Glen, who chairs the group, said they had thrown communities and staff at Mossmorran “a deafie.”

He hit out: “Ministers consistently hide behind SEPA, claiming that contact with affected residents could prejudice its investigations.

“Yet the same argument does not apply to contact with the operators, or to expressing the hope in the chamber at Holyrood that SEPA would go easy on Exxon given the new investment.

“It is an absolute disgrace that no one from the Scottish Government is prepared to engage with the communities around Mossmorran.

“By boycotting Friday’s public meetings, as they have two previous public meetings, ministers are not just sitting on the fence but aligning themselves with the interests of a ruthless multinational against those of Scottish workers and residents who see the plant as a significant risk to their health.”

Meanwhile, the Scottish Greens have challenged First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon to engage with the community impacted by Mossmorran.

Mark Ruskell MSP, environment spokesman, raised the issue at First Minister’s Questions after agency staff walked out of the planty citing health and safety concerns linked to recent flaring activity.

He said: ““The local community whose life has been made a misery by the flaring from this industrial relic deserves to be heard.

“Time and time again ministers have refused to meet with them, and they have refused to attend a meeting in Lochgelly on Friday.

“Nicola Sturgeon seemed to suggest it was for the regulator to talk to people, but that is unacceptable. From those who have suffered light, noise and air pollution to those striking at the plant over its safety, this situation has significant health impact and the Scottish Government cannot wash its hands of the responsibility over the long-term future of one of Scotland’s biggest polluters.”

Meanwhile, an unofficial walkout of contract workers has been resolved.

They left the petrochemical site – which has been decommissioned for the past six months – in protest at redundancy selection measures, pay and health and safety issues.

The action was restricted to employees of Bilfinger working at the plant.

Gary Cook, GMB Scotland organiser said: “Staff will now return to work as normal following discussions with the Mossmorran sub-contractor representatives.

“The concerns raised surrounding working conditions and safety on site will be addressed fully under the terms of the ‘blue book’ industry agreement.

“Staff will suffer no detriment for the action taken over the last 48 hours and we look forward to working positively with Exxon and the sub-contractor employers moving forward.”