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Annan Farmer Left With Four Figure Bill To Clear Up Fly Tippers Mess

Hazardous waste dumped on a Dumfriesshire farm shows the major flaws in Scotland’s fly-tipping response.

A lorry-load of asbestos sheets dumped on a farm near Annan has left the farmer facing a four-figure bill to have the extremely hazardous material cleared.
Due to the hazardous nature of the material, the incident was raised as a matter of urgency with local and national agencies – Dumfries and Galloway Council, Police Scotland, SEPA and Zero Waste Scotland. Limited support has been offered, a site visit has been undertaken by the local authority, but it appears that Mr Jamieson will be held responsible for the uplift and disposal of the waste. Without any identifiable content in the asbestos waste, it is unlikely that any agency intends to pursue the case for investigation and prosecution.
NFU Scotland’s regional manager for Dumfries and Galloway, Teresa Dougall, who has been assisting Mr Jamieson with the case, said: “It’s a hugely frustrating story as almost every person that Mr Jamieson and NFU Scotland turned to about this dreadful incident shifted the responsibility to someone else.
“Although not wholly surprising, we had hoped, due to the extremely hazardous nature of asbestos, that someone would raise their head above the parapet.
“Not only does this highlight the lack of general support – both physical and legislative – in tackling the surge in fly-tipping across Scotland but when hazardous waste is involved, that support still isn’t available and the innocent landowner is left to carry the cost of clean-up and disposal.”

 

SCOTLAND’S FARMERS AND CROFTERS TO FEED IN TO CLIMATE ASSEMBLY AND SHAPE NATION’S CLIMATE CHANGE RESPONSE

Farmers and crofters are asked to engage with Scotland’s fledgling Climate Assembly to ensure food and farming are at the heart of the nation’s climate change response.

The establishment and operation of the Climate Assembly was included in Scotland’s 2019 Climate Change Act.  The Assembly will consider how best to tackle climate change.  Specifically, it will be asked to consider ‘how should Scotland change to tackle the climate emergency in an effective and fair way?’.  It can consider how to minimise or mitigate the effects of climate change and make recommendations on measures proposed to achieve the emissions reduction targets in Scotland.

The Assembly is currently collecting thoughts and ideas on Scotland’s climate change response from all interested individuals at https://scotclimateca.dialogue-app.com/how-should-scotland-change-to-tackle-the-climate-emergency-in-an-effective-and-fair-way

It is scheduled to report to the Scottish Parliament on the outcomes of its deliberations at the end of February 2021.

A stewarding group, established to ensure balance and legitimacy in the establishment, conduct and reporting of the Assembly has been established and includes NFU Scotland President Andrew McCornick.

Encouraging farmers and crofters to engage with the Assembly, Mr McCornick said: “I welcome the opportunity to represent farmers and crofters on the steering group of the assembly, but given the important role of agriculture in tackling climate change, I need our members to feed in too.

The creation of the Climate Assembly is an important plank in Scotland’s Climate Change Act as it encourages every individual to get involved in identifying how the nation should be tackling the climate emergency. 
“Being part of that, through the steering group, is something I am proud to be involved in.
“We have been crystal clear that every sector of Scottish agriculture will have a role to play in ensuring our food and farming industries contribute to tackling the climate emergency as well as guaranteeing sustainable food production and flourishing biodiversity.
“Scotland’s farmers and crofters have already taken significant steps to reduce emissions and, with the right support from Scottish Government, we will ensure the sector continues to deliver for the climate and wider environment.”

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