Davidson MP, Jonathan O’Dea has come out fighting, following a community meeting between community members and representatives of the WSN Environmental Solutions facility at Belrose.
“The meeting, which included local residents, was angered by the WSN Board decision to extend the life of the tip with another 180,000 tonnes of landfill and that it would then not be open for public recreation for at least another 30 years,” Mr O’Dea said.
“There has been 14 years of community consultation on the future of this site and now the community is bluntly told the site is likely to be locked up! It is not good enough and the local community deserves better,” Mr O’Dea said.
“I understand that from time to time changes are necessary but when they adversely impact on people, some effort should be made to compensate those most affected.
“The announcement by the WSN Board appears to make no practical attempt to recognise the breach of promise made to local residents and local sporting groups.
“There appears little or no demonstration of regret that previous commitments have been forsaken,” Mr O’Dea said.
“The Government should ensure that WSN Services honours its previous commitments and addresses the need for greater recreational facilities in the Belrose area.
“I call on the Minister to actively pursue ways this site can be returned to public recreation, perhaps in stages, from the previously stated date of 2010.
“I also call on the WSN Board to honour past promises to the community instead of announcing increased landfill plans and suggesting the site will be locked up until the middle of the century.
“A return of the site to recreational activities would bring enormous benefits to residents and sporting groups in the local Belrose community and beyond,” Mr O’Dea concluded.
