Ladybank fire: MSP’s questions to Scottish Government Minister & call for public meeting

Willie Rennie has also called for a public meeting to discuss the future of the site.

The North East Fife Lib Dem politician wants the issues addressed directly with the local communities who, he said, had endured “poor” communication during the 13-day incident.

The fire on May 14 involved recycled material and waste spread across an area measuring approximately 200m by 300m. At the height of the incident, SFRS had 12 appliances, 60 firefighters, and specialist resources at the scene. Damage was put at over £1million.

Mr Rennie has now sent more than a dozen questions to Kirsten Oswald MSP, the new Community Safety Minister, about the Lower Melville Wood fire and how the incident was handled.

These questions include:

What was the initial cause of the fire?

Why was the fire able to spread across the compartments to the neighbouring waste when those compartments were designed to stop spread?

Did other fires on the site in recent months trigger an upgrade to fire prevention measures?

Why was there so much waste stored on the site?

Why was the fire judged to be level one?

Why was it not felt necessary to have local, mobile air quality monitors?

Mr Rennie said: “The fire was a major incident and I am grateful to the emergency services and other staff who have been involved in dealing with it. It has been difficult, methodical work to contain the fire and dowse a large volume of smouldering material.

“While I have tried to get answers for local people, I believed that the focus should be on dealing with the incident.

“However, now that the emergency services have returned the site to Cireco, I want to turn to an investigation into this incident. This needs to be carried out thoroughly and robustly but also as quickly as possible. Local people also believe that it should be carried out independently.” Mr Rennie said the fire had a direct impact on local communities.

He said: “Throughout the fire many of the people living closest to it - the people who were hit hardest by smoke, exacerbated medical conditions, and road closures - felt that they were left in the dark, without clear communications from the authorities dealing with this incident. They are looking for explanations and assurances, and they deserve to get them.

“That is why I have written to the Scottish Government to set out what I believe needs to be included in the investigation. I have also made clear that there needs to be a public meeting to address these issue directly with the local communities.”

Robin Baird, chief executive of Cireco, said: "While firefighting operations have ended, work to safely manage the site continues. Cireco teams are now leading recovery efforts, including ongoing work to spread, dampen and cool remaining hot material.

“Cireco has robust arrangements in place to manage the site safely, which have been agreed with SFRS. Trained staff will be present on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week to monitor conditions and respond quickly to any changes.”

Cupar Recycling Centre will continue to open seven days a week until Ladybank Recycling Centre reopens.