The green light has been given for the construction of a major new manufacturing facility - despite strong concerns from community campaigners.
At an acrimonious meeting of North Ayrshire Council's planning committee, views were exchanged on the controversial project.
Planning permission had been given in principle for development on the site of the former Hunterston coal terminal a year ago and came back to the committee for approval.
The facility will involve the erection of a high voltage cable manufacturing facility with associated factories, research and testing laboratories, offices with associated stores, transport, access, parking and landscaping with on-site generation and electrical infrastructure and cable delivery system.
The permission also allowed the construction of a 158ft high tower which is seen as vital to the operation. A stipulation was also proposed by the planning committee that the land owner would arrange for a financial bond with the council to remove the tower if no longer needed before the start of its development.
Local resident John Riddell, who has major concerns about the development, said: “I have lived in Fairlie since 1972 and became used to bangs, clatters and screeches at Hunterston. I believe the proposed cable factory is a good use of a new derelict site.
“The noise should be limited to 34 decibels during the day and 26 at night shall apply to all people within the Fairlie boundary. It is important there is complete clarity on how noise should be controlled."
Fairlie and Cumbrae Community Council representative, Rita Holmes, who has strong reservations about the development, said: “There is a threat to health from 24/7 noise.
“There is very real potential for for us and our families, including babies, be exposed to intolerable noise and levels of noise and vibration not only from the cable manufacturing facility, but from the cable vessels coming into Hunterston jetty.
“We are not looking for sympathy but an unbiased decision. The jetty will be just 440 metres from the nearest house.”
Planning permission was nodded through with a series of conditions, including that the noise levels proposed by Mr Riddell must be adhered to and also that noise levels will be regularly monitored, at the suggestion of planning committee vice-chairman Timothy Billings.
It was also agreed that, before starting work above ground level of the tower, details of a financial bond to be secured with the landowner for the removal of the tower in the event of redundancy shall be submitted to North Ayrshire Council, as planning authority, for written approval.
Any such bond shall be retained through the life of the development with confirmation to be provided to council on a yearly basis following completion of the tower.
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