Clydeport and SEPA have worked together to find a ‘suitable solution’ to the dust problem which has dogged Fairlie twice this year.

There have been two high profile releases of dust during the past six months which has resulted in Clydeport sending out window cleaning teams to rid cars, houses and boats of the menace in the surrounding neighbourhood.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency had issued an enforcement notice to the Clydeport Hunterston facility, following an incident of coal dust pollution in April which impacted on the local community.

The operator has fully co-operated with SEPA in the investigation of the incident and discussions have been ongoing about the source of the dust and the nature of measures to reduce the likelihood of further incidents.

The source of the pollution was identified and measures were put in place to improve dust control are underway. The enforcement notice issued recently required that the agreed measures are completed by the end of August.

However, there was a second coal dust pollution problem on Saturday August 31, after it was revealed that it was the finer Colombian coal dust which was released.

The matter was discussed during the recent Fairlie Council meeting when Clydeport had decided to appeal SEPA’s enforcement order.