Targets row over waste plant plans

A public inquiry has begun this week into the controversial scheme planned for a site off Sir Harry Lauder Road.

The scheme was rejected by the city council in 2008 but the company behind the plans, Viridor, lodged an appeal against the decision with the Scottish Government.

The inquiry is expected to last until next Friday, although the decision will not be known until much later in the year.

Hundreds of residents objected to the proposals, which council planning officials had recommended for approval only for councillors to vote to reject them. A campaign group, Portobello Opposes New Garbage Site (Pongs), argued that the plans would result in hundreds of lorries coming in and out of the site, and it claimed that it would create excess dirt, noise and disturbance near residential areas.

The road-to-rail scheme proposes building a 17-metre high waste transfer depot on part of the former rail freight yard. Waste would be driven there from across the Lothians, loaded on to trains and taken to a Dunbar landfill site.

Speaking after the second day of the inquiry, Martin Grey, Viridor's Scottish communications manager, said: "If we are to meet our zero waste ambitions, Edinburgh and Scotland needs new infrastructure on the ground to translate policy into practice. Moreover, the area waste plan is clear in its strong preference for the bulk transfer of waste to be by rail rather than road, a point overlooked by opponents to date.

"The proposed road-to-rail facility, on an existing strategic rail site, will be operated to the highest local, national and international standards. The proposal relates to the transfer, not treatment, of waste. It offers a more sustainable alternative backed by rigorous odour controls regulated by both the planning and waste permitting processes."

However, Frances Wraith, a member of Pongs, said afterwards that she was unconvinced by assurances over odour control.

"While I'm not qualified to comment on odour management, personally speaking I am concerned about the impact that even the slightest odour can have in giving an area a bad name. People don't want to live in or visit such places."

Viridor is set to continue giving evidence to the inquiry today, followed by objectors and the council.

Portobello/Craigmillar councillor Stephen Hawkins said: "This is quite clearly a commercial venture and it is not following a waste strategy which has been agreed for the country as a whole.

"Viridor would be bringing waste into an urban area and this would have a huge impact on the Portobello conservation area."

http://portobellopongs.com/