Garlaff landfill Site, Skares - Barr Ltd - East Ayrshire Council

Skares Road opencast coal site. In view of the mining circumstances of the site
a prudent developer would seek appropriate technical advice before works are
undertaken on site.
A note could be attached to any consent granted for the proposed
development advising the applicant to make early contact with The
Coal Authority.
3.4 The Scottish Wildlife Trust objects to the proposed application for landfill
expansion, opencast coal extraction and the landfill operation as the application
does not stipulate in what way or how development of recycling and/or recovery
of waste at the point of source will be carried out. The Trust considers that the
point of source, i.e. at each household, separation of domestic waste would
greatly reduce the requirement for landfill sites and that to continue along the
current mode of landfill for the great majority of household and other waste
negates the statements of recycling, reduction and sustainability written into the
Ayrshire Joint Structure Plan.
The objection from SWT pertains to issues that are outwith the
control of the applicant and would be issues that require to be
addressed in the formulation of an Area Waste Strategy. At this
time, there has been no agreement on such a strategy that would
include East Ayrshire.
3.5 Historic Scotland has no comments to make on the proposed
development.
Noted.
3.6 West of Scotland Archaeology Service indicates that there is one
recorded site of minor industrial archaeological interest at the southwest corner
of the site which is a former colliery. This area is marked as outside the existing
site layout but is inside the application area. It is marked as undisturbed
grassland/ woodland on the restoration master plan. It appears then that the site
will be preserved in situ which accords with Government advice contained in
NPPG5 and PAN42 about the treatment of archaeological sites.
Noted.
3.7 The Scottish Environment Protection Agency states that it has no
objections in principle to the proposed development provided that all necessary
steps are taken to prevent/ minimise pollution. With respect to the proposed
opencast operation, the following points are relevant:
(i)
Water treatment areas should be located to receive all contaminated
water from the excavation, haul roads, overburden / soil tips, plant areas
and the coal preparation site. All this site drainage requires treatment
before being discharged to a watercourse. Groundwater from the
dewatering of the site may need treatment to reduce the iron