Operators of a recycling plant accused by objectors of not working on Sundays during a one year trial of extended hours said the claims only proved they were meeting noise standards.
Hamilton Waste and Recycling, which last year became Scotland’s first carbon neutral waste centre, was given temporary approval to operate their site near Musselburgh on Sundays for 12 months to assess local impact.
However while representatives from the company said they had operated on the Smeaton site 47 out of 52 Sundays during the trial period and received no complaints, East Lothian councillors said some objectors had challenged whether they were working every Sunday they claimed.
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Councillor Colin McGinn told a meeting of the committee: "I have spoken to local residents who had complaints and concerns were raised that they did not operate 47 of the weekends during the trial period."
A report by planning officers also said that among eight objections lodged over the seven day operations were claims "the assessment criteria for the one year trial period haven't been valid or realistic as the site has not been operational every Sunday,"
However representatives for Hamilton said they had documented diaries showing they had worked 47 weekends over the year adding the claims showed "how successful it has been if people do not realise we are operating."
They said allowing the firm to operate on Sundays permanently would allow them to bid for contracts from local authorities and companies which extend beyond one year.
Local ward councillor Andrew Forrest expressed his ongoing concern about the impact of noise from the site on local residents in the rural community surrounding it.
The committee voted by eight votes to one to approve the permanent Sunday working hours with Councillor Forrest voting against the decision.
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