Waste recycling firm makes new bid for depot green light

A WASTE recycling firm that faced overwhelming public opposition to its plans for a £7 million transfer depot in the Capital has taken its case to the Scottish Parliament.

Viridor has lodged a last-minute appeal with Ministers after Edinburgh City Council rejected its application to build a waste transfer site in Portobello in July of last year.

The firm had just days until its appeal period came to an end when it made its application last week, asking that a public inquiry be held.

A Government response is expected by the summer and any inquiry is not likely to take place until the end of the year or the start of 2010. Company executives remain confident the road-to-rail facility – on the former freightliner terminal off Sir Harry Lauder Road – would make a "positive contribution" to the city, particularly by providing 25 jobs.

The scheme proposes erecting 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.

Hundreds of residents helped convince councillors to reject the planning application – which had been recommended for approval by council officers – arguing that the depot's smell and appearance would be offensive and that it would bring too much traffic to the already congested area.

Frances Wraith, a member of PONGS (Portobello Opposes New Garbage Site), said the campaign would resume with even more vigour.

She said: "We feel profoundly upset by this and we have certainly not gone away nor gone to sleep.

"The plan being submitted to Ministers is exactly the same as the one that went to the council, so our arguments are the same.

"Why is Viridor wanting to do this to the community?"

Councillors questioned Viridor's calculations last year regarding the number of lorries entering and leaving the depot to drop off rubbish.

They discovered that with more than 460 arriving every day, at peak times some would have to wait on the road while the depot's roller shutter doors opened and closed. Speaking at the time, city centre councillor Joanna Mowat, said: "How they can say it's not going to have an impact on this A-listed conservation area, I do not know."

Martin Grey, Scottish communications manager for Viridor, said: "Meeting national and local planning policy and with a recommendation from planners for approval, Viridor remains convinced that our proposals for a 7m, fully enclosed facility creating up to 25 local jobs, continues to make a positive contribution to the effective management and transportation of post-recycling residual waste across the city and further afield.

"Whilst continuing to work to address local concerns, Viridor has lodged an appeal to the Scottish Ministers seeking an independent, third party review of our planned investment and we look forward to a determination in due course."