New date for the Marine Scotland pre-consultation event: 8th August 2018, Fairlie Village Hall, 2 pm to 7pm.
In April 2018 NAC granted Peelports planning permission to prepare a ‘marine yard’ and the coal jetty for dismantling oil rigs and large vessels without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). That means they can dredge, pile drive, and re-landscape coast line without needing to protect the unique adjacent SSSI, colonies of seals and porpoises, a unique ‘lone’ dolphin, and the Clyde marine area which is highly dependent upon tourism and fisheries.
However, SEPA and Marine Scotland also need to give Peelports permission to do this. We need to make sure our voices are heard and Peelports are made to do an EIA at the very least.
Peelports are currently demolitioning equipment on the Coal Jetty, working at least 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. The beach and waters are being contaminated with silt and coal dust which our families and dogs are swimming in and playing on. How much worse will this be when oil rigs are being taken apart there?
In June we put a leaflet through your door asking you to attend Marine Scotland’s pre-consultation public event at Sea Mill Hydro regarding the construction of a huge ‘caisson gate’ which will allow oil rigs to float in and out of the marine yard. The hotel actually cancelled the event due to “concerns about public order”. At that time, 1400 people had signed the on-line petition “Protect Clyde Marine Life: STOP PeelPorts Oil-Rig Decommissioning Facility” *. Now over 2200 have signed and rising!
Jobs for local people have not been promised, and at other similar sites employees are living on ‘off shore accommodation’ and contributing very little to the local economies.
We need to make sure that Marine Scotland deny permission, or at worst require an EIA. We know that about four tonnes of radioactive waste (scale, sludge and sediments) has been found in each offshore installation decommissioned in Norway. We will also have to cope with the noise and light pollution.
FCC met with Peelports on the 12th July when Peelports told them that after 50 years at the Hunterston Parc they know the site is very profitable. The meeting notes will be published in the next few days.
Help us to help you to live in a safe and clean environment.
Sign the petition * and come along on the 8th August 2018 to make your views heard by Marine Scotland.
Thank you,
“Fairlie residents against decommissioning oil rigs”