Ayrshire: Mystery surrounds latest Peel Ports Hunterston project …
Alan Hill, a Fairlie resident and North Ayrshire councillor for the North Coast ward, has been trying to get more information about Peel Port's plans for marine works at the Hunterston construction yard - known as Hunterston PARC (Port and Resource Campus).
Clydeport have announced that they will be holding a pre-application consultation event in November, "in respect of proposed licensable marine works at Hunterston construction yard, comprising a new quay wall, marine dredging, infilling of dry dock basin to form construction platform and associated works".
A public consultation attended by the project team will take place between 3pm and 8pm in Fairlie Village Hall on Wednesday, November 8.
Speaking at a meeting of Largs Community Council (LCC), Cllr Hill said he had been trying to get more information from Peel Ports on the project.
He said: "I have emailed Peel Ports to try and find out what they are going to do.
"Peel Ports always apply in wee sections for things - and they will have an aim, and they employ highly paid planning consultants to lead on it for them.
"They apply for this, and they apply for that, and then eventually the truth becomes apparent down the line."
Cllr Alan Hill - 'More questions than answers' (Image: Newsquest)His North Coast colleague, Conservative councillor Tom Marshall, said: "Does it not say that they are going to fill in the dry dock?
"It is a huge dry dock which they have tried to use in the past because they got funding from the Scottish Government to put in dock gates. The idea was to float in oil rigs for decommissioning, but it looks like they have moved on from that.
"So they are probably going to fill in the dry dock and build the quay - so they can bring in ships alongside as the quay they have just now is not very large."
LCC member Jim Perman said the issue was predominantly a Fairlie one and that Largs did not necessarily have to have a say on the project.
The Peel Ports website on the Hunterston PARC project[1] states 'Change is coming'.
It goes on to state: "Set on 100 acres of land, the marine yard boasts one of Europe’s largest dry docks, as well as a quay facility, that is suitable for barges 64 metres in length with a draught of 4.5 metres.
"With such a unique combination of features, the marine yard is ideally suited to offer flexibility and choice to operators supporting marine construction and renewable energy developments such as floating wind, recycling (decommissioning) projects, large marine structure construction, repair and removal, [and] aquaculture.
"The site includes open storage space options. Cargo can be stored securely on site with ample space available including quay side storage area of 1,883 square metres.
"Hunterston PARC is a fully consented port that can accommodate laydown, import, export and shipping, due to its on-site deep water port and dry dock.
"Large offshore experimental turbines have been erected and decommissioned on the marine yard, using a 700 tonne high reach crane, with loads dispersed using pads.
"The yard is ideally located to serve Glasgow and the heartland of Scotland. It benefits from multimodal connectivity with good road connections, deep sea and two rail terminals at Hunterston Bulk Terminal, providing direct access to Scotland and the rest of the UK.
"Hunterston PARC is the ideal place to serve the UK, Irish, European and American markets.
"It offers deep sea, road and rail connectivity to move freight cost-effectively all over the UK."
Peel Ports have been contacted for comment.
References
- ^ Peel Ports website on the Hunterston PARC project (www.hunterstonparc.com)