Factory odour gets up noses of neighbours

Published on Tuesday 3 November 2009 08:51

FUMES from a railway line factory near South Queensferry have sparked a row with residents.

A "burning rubber" smell is regularly reported by residents near the Balfour Beatty plant, on the outskirts of South Queensferry, which produces mechanical points systems for the rail network.

Residents of Echline and Springfield, Linn Mill and neighbouring Newton are now keeping a log of when the odour is present.

Both Queensferry and Newton community councils, and West Lothian Council, have held talks with Balfour Beatty over the offending smell and also the noise coming from the site.

West Lothian councillor Tom Kerr, whose ward covers Newton, said: "When council planners passed Balfour Beatty's relocation to this site 18 months ago, we were given the impression it would be a modern engineering establishment with a little bit of foundry work, but it appears not so."

A Balfour Beatty spokeswoman said: "The Queensferry facility is a world-class operation with the latest technology complemented with the best environmental controls.

"Balfour Beatty fully complies with SEPA and liaises regularly with the local authority. The facility has created 180 jobs. Recently we installed a new automatic door closing system, replacing a roller shutter door."