We're ready for dirty fight on rubbish

THERE is a mood of general defiance in the air in Leith. Having discovered for the second time that advanced plans have quietly been drawn up for a huge waste depot on their doorsteps, residents are determined to do all they can to stop it.

The city's main waste depot at Powderhall would be transferred to land beside hundreds of new homes near Leith Docks under plans drawn up by council officials. But the fact that a month-long trial of the scheme, which would see 70 lorries a day visit the site, was being planned without consulting residents has provoked outrage.

Illustrator Daphne Louter, 30, whose flat on Salamander Street is close to the proposed new depot, summed up the spirit of opposition.

"It's scandalous that they do not inform people about these things. This is the first I've heard about it. There's no information whatsoever. We get everything thrown at us in this area and if that continues the neighbourhood is going to go downhill," she said.

"We are being pooped on from a great height. There's a concrete factory gone up behind us and my windows end up getting filthy. There's also a sporadic smell of sewage from Seafield.

"We will now rally the neighbours to try and stop this going ahead. We'll have to get together and talk about what to do. It worked the last time and hopefully it will work again."

The protest plans were being hatched as council leader Donald Anderson ordered the local authority's chief executive Tom Aitchison to investigate how such detailed talks were being drawn up by officials without senior councillors being informed.

The Evening News revealed yesterday how the plans were being drawn up for the Regenerate Scotland recycling site on Bath Road - just yards from where residents successfully fought off plans for such a facility 18 months ago.

Councillor Anderson said the council had to be more "open and honest" after previous plans were abandoned amid accusations of secrecy. Today he said: "As a matter of urgency I have asked the chief executive to investigate how discussions reached such a point without elected members being informed, and to ensure all future communication and consultation on any proposals in this area are undertaken effectively and openly."

Campaigners collected 5000 signatures in just two weeks to block the previous plans. Similar protests are now expected.

Builder Chris O'Brien, 32, who lives on Salamander Street, said: "I really thought they had put a stop to this. They are trying to regenerate the whole area and this will not help at all."

Teacher Alison McDougall, 35, who can see the site from her back garden, added: "I cannot believe this. I thought they were going to be building flats and building a cycleway here.

We'll have to fight this all the way."

Neighbour Margaret Beattie, 59, a housekeeper, said: "It's bad enough now in this street without this going ahead.

"There's a big problem with prostitutes, so to have that out the front and a waste depot at the back would be awful."

Drinkers in nearby pub The Dockers were flabbergasted by the plans, which could see 150,000 tonnes of waste handled a year on the site.

Rosalyn Ferrier, 35, who runs the pub, said: "It is an absolute outrage that they can get away with that. I thought this was an up-and-coming area but this will do nothing to enhance the area."

Barman Derek Monaghan, 46, who lives in Salamander Street, said: "It will be disastrous, especially with all the new houses going up."

In the bar, postman Charlie Clark, 40, of Leith Links, said: "I have environmental concerns about this. No-one has mentioned it before, but I reckon everyone will be talking about it now."

In nearby Elbe Street, Rowena Allanson-Oddy, 31, a veterinary receptionist and cake maker, said: "I would definitely put my name to a petition. I think there's enough rats around here at the moment."

Neighbour Murray Wilson, 36, a hairdresser, said: "My fear would be the effect it will have on property prices. I have spent two years trying to finish the place to make money on it."

There was also concern at businesses adjoining the Regenerate Scotland site.

Cleaner Colin Clark, 56, of Elbe Street, added: "They should be much more open about these things, which seem to go through for approval before we find out about them. It is as if they take delight in telling you there is nothing that can be done about it."

Tom Day, 40, director of JS Scaffolding which backs on to the factory, said: "We will voice our complaints. I would have expected to have heard about this before now." Jonathan Morley, 25, branch rental manager of Enterprise rent-a-car, said: "We have about 200 cars here which we have to keep clean. The main effects from this for us would be congestion and dust possibly coming across. Trying to get cars from here through to Portobello and town is bad as it is."

Angry local councillor Phil Attridge said Leith still appeared to be Edinburgh's dumping ground, despite the area's regeneration.

He said: "Storm clouds are gathering again. We have Seafield up the road, I think we are doing our bit. The last time Leithers told them in no uncertain terms what they thought of this proposal. Leith is Edinburgh's dumping ground and this could be the final straw."

The council said residents would be consulted before any final decision was taken.

A local authority spokesman added: "No decisions have been made on the location of any new sites. It is standard procedure to consult with local residents, elected members and the public on any new service or significant change to service."