Mossmorran Public Meeting

Mossmorran Action Group has called a public meeting in response to widespread public concern about recent extended flaring at Mossmorran.

The recent emergency flaring lasted for 9 days, and caused light, noise and air pollution which gave rise to scores of complaints by local residents to multiple agencies as well as extensive comment on social media.

The purpose of the meeting is to give residents the opportunity to air their concerns and seek answers from the plant operators, regulatory authorities and local political representatives.

Representatives from Shell and ExxonMobil, Fife Council, SEPA and NHS Fife as well as local councillors, constituency and list MSPs and the MP Lesley Laird have been invited.

The community group was founded some months ago by residents from Lochgelly, Cowdenbeath and Auchtertool as a forum for residents impacted by operations at Mossmorran. Its aims are to secure better engagement with the plant operators, set up independent time-based air quality, noise and pollution monitoring and seek greater redress for the plant’s negative impacts on neighbouring communities.

On Monday 12th June, sudden flaring after a “process upset” at the ExxonMobil controlled facilities woke residents. Flaring, noise and vibration persisted from the plant until 9:20am on Saturday 24th.

A separate incident by Shell on Sunday disrupted operations at ExxonMobil, triggering another flaring incident, which emitted black smoke containing various toxins into the atmosphere, and caused further concern across many communities.

Auchtertool resident and Mossmorran Action Group co-founder Katrona Turner says:

“There needs to be a public debate about the facilities which is long overdue. For 32 years Auchtertool residents have regularly suffered negative impacts ranging in severity from one of Europe’s largest ethylene facilities.

“Speaking to our neighbouring communities, they have faced the same issues and it is time for the operators and the authorities to put our communities, our families and friends, at the heart of long overdue investigations and mitigatory action. We need definitive answers to our collective concerns.”

The meeting is to be held at Lochgelly Town Hall on 5th July 2017 starting at 7pm – 9pm. All are welcome to attend.