LOCAL RESIDENTS VINDICATED BY SEPA OVER BIOMASS NOISE COMPLAINTS
Published date : 13 Feb 2019
LOCAL RESIDENTS VINDICATED BY SEPA OVER BIOMASS NOISE COMPLAINTS
A group of local residents have been vindicated over noise complaints relating to the RWE-owned Biomass Plant outside Markinch.
On Monday, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) published the results of an investigation of environmental noise in the vicinity of the RWE Biomass Power Station. This report followed a number of complaints raised by residents. The report, which is available on SEPA’s public register, confirms:
· Low frequency tonal noise at 50, 100 and 200 Hz was identified at the monitoring locations during operation of the steam turbine generator.
· A tone at 75 Hz was also identified at one of the receptors when the steam turbine generator was shut down. This will be investigated further to locate the source during the site’s annual outage in May 2019.
· The noise associated with venting during the start-up of the plant is likely to result in complaint, consistent with the communities experience.
SEPA is now working together with RWE Markinch Limited on a variation to the sites permit conditions to reduce noise emissions from the site.
Glenrothes MSP, Jenny Gilruth, has been working with residents on this issue since last September. Commenting on the announcement, the local politician said:
‘I am grateful to SEPA for their efforts in carrying out extensive surveys in the Prestonhall and Mount Frost areas of Markinch and in Cadham and beyond.
It is quite clear that my constituents have had to endure high noise levels at varying times of the day and night, which has caused a great deal of disturbance and distress to those affected.
Hopefully the variation of the permit conditions at the biomass site will result in a reduction of noise emissions in the near future.’
Mount Frost resident, Ian Davidson, also welcomed the news, commenting:
“The joint efforts underway by SEPA and RWE to look at variations to the permit in order to reduce noise is welcome.
In addition the community are hopeful that a 24/7 noise monitoring system be put in place in order to help protect residents as we move through this process.
I would like to add my personal thanks to our fantastic local MSP Jenny Gilruth for taking the time to listen to residents, take our concerns on board, and act quickly for her constituents”
ENDS
Link to SEPA report here –
https://publicregister.sepa.org.uk/Weblink/0/doc/2441033/Page1.aspx
Local Reporters, East Fife Mail, Glenrothes Gazette, Courier (Fife), COMMUNITY, ENVIRONMENT
