ENVIRONMENTAL
This page highlights the damaging environmental impacts the new quarry proposal will have on Lucklawhill and the surrounding area.
DUST
Balmullo Quarry is mainly comprised of a pink felsite, a light-coloured, dense, medium-grained igneous rock consisting mainly of feldspar and also quartz and other minerals. Confirmation that the quarrying is for felsite is given by Breedon in the document below:
Residents of Balmullo have reported dust from the Quarry on their windows and on their cars. It is, therefore, airborne and they can breathe it in. The extent of this pollution is not clear but it is likely to be worse in dry conditions or after blasting. On a dry day the prevailing strong wind will carry the dust further and impact on more villagers, especially, if the wind speed and direction is not considered when blasting. In certain conditions, the dust may well fall out of the buffer zone but as far as we are aware Breedon is not monitoring dust. Fife Council “Nuisances” lists Dust as follows:
“Dust can be a nuisance when it gets in your eyes, mouth and nose. If you are bothered by dust, you can complain to Environmental Health and they will investigate.
If we find someone has been unreasonably creating dust which is causing a nuisance, then Environmental Health will serve a legal notice on the person responsible. That person (or company) will then be required to stop the nuisance.”
Fife Council
If dust from the Quarry is a problem for you, you can report it here:
In recent years there has been a great deal of research into air quality and particularly coarse particles PM 10 and fine particles PM 2.5 . The coarse particles PM 10 are small enough to enter the lungs and one of sources noted by the Scottish Government report below is quarries. Fine particles PM 2.5 can enter the blood stream and there is considerable evidence of damage to human health. Click the Link Below:
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Analysis of dust samples found in the village and on the hill needs to be undertaken to determine that it is the same mineral composition as the quarry (felsite) and to measure the particle sizes. This analysis would help to determine the potential impact of low level, long term exposure to quarry dust.
Dust was monitored at sensitive properties by the previous Quarry operator, Ennstone Thistle, but current technology is much more sophisticated. Breedon have operated the Quarry for the last 14 years (since 2010) without monitoring dust at these properties. They are planning to monitor dust outside the site now that they are applying for the current expansion (verbal comment at PAC 20th March 2024).
NOISE
Noise from Balmullo Quarry takes two forms, the noise of processing the aggregate which is during operating hours and the noise from blasting. The noise from blasting is much less frequent but more troubling for people with certain sensitivities. Environmental conditions such as cold, damp and windy days can make this noise worse. The ground vibration from blasting, particularly for residents on the hill and nearest to the Quarry in the village, has been reported to shake the whole house and some people have noted damage to their property. Breedon contracts another company to monitor this vibration outside sensitive properties and by the mast and the water reservoir, to check it is within legal limits. Much more information about blasting is provided below:
The background noise from aggregate processing at Balmullo Quarry is more constant and counts as a statutory nuisance if it either:
- unreasonably and substantially interferes with the user or enjoyment of a home or other premises
- or injures health or is likely to injure health
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Reference: https://www.gov.scot/policies/pollution/noise-nuisance/
Fife Council is responsible for controlling and dealing with complaints about noise. You can report Commercial Noise Nuisance from plant or machinery here:
LIGHT
Light pollution from artificial light at night disrupts the natural rhythms of wildlife and can disturb our sleep. Some residents are affected by the lights from the Quarry that operate during the night and in darkness in winter, to provide security.
Light and Glare can be reported as a nuisance to Fife Council in the following situation:
Fife Council
“Bright lights shining into your living room or bedroom can be distressing. If you are suffering from artificial lights shining into your living or bedrooms you can contact the Environmental Health Public Protection Team
Please note:
- We will only investigate artificial light shining into your bedrooms or living rooms; not kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms, landings or hallways.
- We would expect people to try closing their curtains first, and if the light is still a problem, then contact us
- We don’t expect people to have to fit black-out curtains or blinds.”
Fife Council is responsible for controlling and dealing with complaints about light. You can report Commercial Light Nuisance from plant or machinery here:
HYDROLOGY
Removing a large part of Lucklawhill is like to affect local hydrology (water distribution and movement). Expert advice is being sought to explain the potential effects of changes to local hydrology. Observations by local residents on the hill include recent new flooding of their land and tree roots that have rotten, which has caused tree fall. We can expect rainfall to increase with climate change and so a reduction in land area that absorbs this rainfall and slowly distributes it down the hill is likely to increase flooding. There is also concern that this additional impact on rainfall could destabilise rare and protected Ancient Forest on the hill, adjacent to the proposed Quarry expansion.
Click below to view the Map showing the Ancient Forest on the hill:
