The wait for the final decision on Clydeport's application to environmental regulators SEPA for a waste management licence for their oil rig decommissioning project at Hunterston could be extended.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency have given assurances to the Fairlie community that they will take steps to ensure that the 'environment will be protected'.

They say that they will install specific conditions to ensure this.

A SEPA spokesman added: "The application was received on 4 October. Whilst SEPA has a four month period to determine the application this can be extended if further time is required."

In a surprise development, the Friends of the Firth of Clyde campaign group say it has been confirmed by Scottish Natural Heritage that the development is 'likely to cause harm to the protected intertidal area known as the SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) which forms the coastline of Hunterston, Fairlie and Portencross.'

A meeting took place last month involving SEPA, Fairlie Community Council and the Friends of the Firth of Clyde campaign group in relation to the licence application.

However, a spokesperson for the campaign group said that despite the assurances they still harbour 'substantial concerns' regarding what is contained in the application, the 'policing' of the activities on site, and its impact on the neighbouring SSSI site - site of scientific special interest.

Independent councillor Ian Murdoch told the 'News' that he was involved in helping to broker a meeting between the Friends group and SEPA at the start of December which took place in the Village Inn in Fairlie, and lasted for several hours.

A Friends of the Firth of Clyde spokesperson said: "We welcome SEPA's recent engagement with the community.

"The decommissioning process is known to be hazardous, involving high levels of noise, dangerous wastes and risks from pollution, requesting to strip 1,000 tonnes of asbestos per day, 2,500 tonnes of rotting marine vegetation and 250 tonnes of radioactive waste.

"The original planning permission granted by North Ayrshire Council was based on the assumption that a more stringent Pollution Prevention Control license application to SEPA would manage all the environmental hazards.

"SEPA have assured the groups that despite Clydeport's application to decommission rigs on the larger coal jetty this will not be allowed.

"However, based on previous experiences of Clydeport's coal operations, the groups have serious concerns as to who will police this."

A spokesperson from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) said: “Every day SEPA works to protect and enhance Scotland’s environment and whilst decommissioning offers economic opportunities we are clear that environmental protections must be in place.

“On 4 October 2018 SEPA received a Waste Management Licence application, under the Waste Management Licensing (Scotland) Regulations, to decommission oil and gas infrastructure at Hunterston Marine Services Centre from Clydeport Operations Ltd. Whilst these regulations do not provide the option of a formal public consultation we understand the strong interest of the community in the proposals and would encourage Clydeport to engage with the local community.

“We held a meeting with members of Fairlie Community Council on 3 December and would like to assure the community that if the detail provided by Clydeport is satisfactory a licence will be drafted which contains conditions to ensure the environment is protected.

"We look forward to further engagement with Fairlie Community Council on this issue in the future.”

"Whilst we trust that SEPA will do what it can within its legal limits, this will not protect the Special Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI) or the wider marine environment from contamination and irreparable damage.

"Our research has led us to learn that the rush by planners to welcome oil rig decommissioning to the coast of Fairlie without an Environmental Impact Assessment poses an imminent environmental risk to our unique marine and coastal environment."

Independent councillor Ian Murdoch said he was supportive of the campaign group's call for a full environmental impact assessment at the location. He said: "I am quite happy for the projects to go ahead but it has to be done in the most appropriate manner to protect the local population and environment."

Last month, NAC planning committee voted not to oppose the license, providing that the proposals to utilise Hunterston Coal Jetty are omitted from the license and that SEPA is satisfied that the limits set for any relevant discharges to air, land and water would be protective of the environment, with other conditions in relation to noise limitation, and road use for any vehicles exporting waste materials subject to a routing agreement.

The council also knocked back calls for a full environmental impact assessment of the site.

A spokesperson for Peel Ports said, “Peel Ports appreciates the concerns of the local community with regards to the environment. All potential environmental effects will have to be fully assessed and mitigated in collaboration with Marine Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage, who are the custodians of the natural environment. In addition, noise, air and water pollution are heavily regulated to ensure that standards are maintained and Peel Ports will adhere to the appropriate statutory environmental requirements.”

SNH comment to follow.