The person responsible for the burning material at a former Cornton caravan site has agreed to stop the practice, according to environmental regulator SEPA.
Controversial work to clear the site, involving burning of trees and vegetation, last week saw smoke blown across roads and houses at the nearby Westhaugh estate.
The matter was referred to SEPA by Stirling Council.
Residents of the Westhaugh estate had hit out over the work and Scottish Fire and Rescue had attended on numerous occasions to put out fires.
Some who contacted the Observer expressed concern about the environmental damage as well as the discomfort caused by the smoke.
A Stirling Council spokesperson said this week: “We can confirm that officers from the council’s environmental health and planning enforcement teams attended this site in Cornton last week to look into reports over the burning of rubbish and the clearing of land.
“Following more reports of these issues last weekend, the matter has now been referred to SEPA, given the scale of the burning and site clearance falls under commercial activity.
“Our environmental health and planning teams will continue to monitor the situation and liaise with SEPA as required.
“We understand the concerns of local residents about these incidents and would ask them to contact SEPA if they have further concerns with burning on the site or smoke nuisance.”
A SEPA spokesperson added: “SEPA would like to thank members of the public and Stirling Council for reporting the burning of waste on the former Cornton caravan site.
“We attended the site on Monday, July 12, spoke to the individual and reminded them of their responsibilities. The individual has agreed to cease burning waste.
“We would encourage members of the public to contact us if they witness any burning on the site via our 24-hour online form at www.sepa.org.uk/report.”
Liberty Durant, of Beech Tree Park Homes, Denny, had applied to Stirling Council early last year for ‘a certificate of lawfulness’ to site 55 static holiday caravans at the Beech Tree Caravan Park/Cornton Caravan Site off Cornton Road.
However, in April 2020 the council turned down the application, pointing out it had not been proved ‘on the balance of probability that the alleged use of the site as a caravan park was subsisting on 13 February 2020 when the application was made’.
They added: ‘As the lawfulness of the existing use has not been satisfied, neither a Certificate of Existing Lawful Use (s150) nor a Certificate of Proposed Lawful Use (s151) can be issued’.
Mr Durant’s real estate advisors in the February application had pointed out that planning permission existed for 11 residential static caravans for 12 months’ occupation, and 44 holiday caravans for seven months’ occupation from March 1 to October 31. They believed this allowed for the change to 55 caravans over 11 months.
A document lodged with the application had stated that existing planning permission for the site ‘is still active and therefore permitted use can be reinstated without applying for further planning permission’.
The Observer has contacted Beech Tree Park Homes for comment.
