Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser has welcomed funds from the UK Government aimed at cleaning up the site of a former printworks in East Stirlingshire.
Ministers are providing £255,000 to help with the cost of removing lead and arsenic contamination. They are also urging the Scottish Government to put up a similar amount of cash, to allow the work to get under way.
After an inspection by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in 2012, 13 households in the area were told their land was contaminated with traces of lead and arsenic. The chemicals are said to be a remnant from a Victorian printworks, which has long gone out of business.
That leaves the current owners of the land liable for the clean-up costs, which amount to more than £600,000 in total.
Stirling Council has offered £125,000 towards the clean-up, with the UK Government now contributing £255,000.
Commenting Murdo Fraser MSP said:
“Residents at Blanefield were extremely concerned not only at the effects of the contamination but also the cost of cleaning it up.
“It would have been wholly unfair to leave decontamination costs at the feet of property owners who had bought their homes in good faith, thankfully the UK Government has stepped in and contributed funds to help with the clean-up.
“Hopefully worried residents can now breathe a sigh of relief after the lifting of this weight from their shoulders. However, I would urge the Scottish Government to follow Westminster’s lead and contribute funds towards the clean-up operation.”