Latest news with #EastAyrshireCouncil
Daily Record
5 days ago
- General
- Daily Record
Hazardous substance permission sought for pioneering green hydrogen production facility in Ayrshire
An application to produce hydrogen near Whitelee Wind Farm will be considered by East Ayrshire Council. An application to allow the production and storage of volatile hydrogen and other fuels at Whitelee Green Hydrogen Project has been lodged. ScottishPower has applied for hazardous substances consent to operate a green hydrogen facility at the site, which is home to the largest wind farm in the UK. The proposed development involves producing hydrogen through the electrolysis of water using power from the adjacent wind and solar farms, then storing and transporting it in specialised high-pressure trailers. The application outlines the storage and handling of several controlled substances, including up to 4 tonnes of hydrogen, 1.3 tonnes of diesel, and 0.24 tonnes of sodium hypochlorite, all of which are subject to strict regulations under hazardous materials law. Hydrogen will be created by splitting demineralised water using two 5MW electrolyser trains, with the gas compressed, dried, and stored in a series of mobile tube trailers. These will be used to export the hydrogen via road, with up to six heavy goods vehicle (HGV) movements per day expected. According to the application, safety has been a major consideration in the site's layout and risk assessments. The hydrogen facility will be located more than a kilometre from any public areas, including the B764. The company says that around 10 permanent staff are expected to work at the hydrogen site, in addition to occasional workers at the co-located solar and wind farms. ScottishPower confirmed the site will operate to 'Lower Tier' standards under the Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) Regulations, even though the facility currently does not meet the threshold requiring full COMAH classification. The company has committed to rigorous risk assessments, including blast and fire impact modelling, and plans to install venting systems, CCTV, fencing, and potential protective structures like blast walls. The project's Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) considered peat depth, drainage, flood risk, and the effect on local watercourses. The hydrogen facility is sited in an area with shallower peat, minimising habitat disruption. Treated water will be discharged to local streams under SEPA-regulated conditions, and a PPC (Pollution Prevention and Control) permit is being pursued. Peat probing, flood modelling, and a 12-month water monitoring programme are already underway, and measures to handle oily water and control surface run-off have been outlined. The hazardous substances consent application is an early but crucial step in progressing the wider Whitelee Green Hydrogen Project, which aims to become one of the UK's first large-scale green hydrogen production facilities directly powered by renewable energy. A broad application for the facility was made in 2021, with a view to having it up and running by the end of 2023. However, Scottish Ministers opted to 'call in' the application, viewing the project as nationally significant in relation to policies on hydrogen production and net zero. The application was eventually approved in January and has been followed up with planning applications for an associated pipeline and this application for hazardous material consent.
Daily Record
18-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
East Ayrshire Council confirm timescale for demolition after Kilmarnock fire
East Ayrshire Council confirm timescale for demolition after Kilmarnock fire Phase one of the demolition started yesterday and East Ayrshire Council are hopeful that King Street can reopen this weekend. (Image: Alasdair MacLeod/Ayrshire Post ) East Ayrshire Council have confirmed the timescales for demolition work in Kilmarnock following the King Street fire. A number of businesses will remain closed until the weekend as work to demolish the most dangerous parts of the building has to take place before utilities companies can move in and restore water, electricity and gas supplies. Two phases of demolition are planned with phase one hoped to be completed by tonight, Friday. The council are hopeful that King Street can reopen after phase one. Ayrshire Roads Alliance (ARA) will move in after phase one to repair any damage to street lighting and the street surface. Phase two is expected to begin on Monday or Tuesday next week, July 21 or 22, and will involve work on the Sandbed Street side of the building. East Ayrshire Council have also confirmed that affected businesses can apply for a £10,000 grant following the fire. Some neighbouring businesses may also be eligible for a grant of £3,000. A spokesperson for East Ayrshire Council said: "Recovery work continues apace with demolition taking priority over the coming days. The demolition will be carried out in two phases. "This commenced on Thursday afternoon and whilst the front elevation was straightforward, the side elevation is less so, requiring some aspects to be undertaken by hand. "Indicative timescales suggest that this will be completed by Friday evening. When phase one has been completed, it is hoped that the exclusion zone can be reduced in preparation for reopening the street to the public. "When phase one has been completed, utility companies will be given access to all of the affected properties to reinstate power and water supplies. This will take some time and cannot commence until after the demolition. Download the Ayrshire Live app today The Ayrshire Live app is available to download now. Get all the local news in your area – plus features, football news and the latest on the coronavirus crisis – at your fingertips 24/7. The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories while you can customise your page with the sections that matter to you. The Ayrshire Live app is available to download now on iOS and Android. "Before any reopening, ARA will conduct a full and comprehensive street safety inspection including repairs to lamp posts and road surfaces which have been damaged during the incident. "It is hoped that King Street will reopen soon after the completion of phase one demolition and utility checks of all affected premises. Thereafter it will be up to individual retailers to determine when they can safely resume business. "The farmers market scheduled for Saturday morning can go ahead as planned, with additional traffic management in place. "All affected businesses in the demolished building can apply for £10k grant assistance from East Ayrshire Council. Other affected neighbouring businesses may be eligible for a £3k grant. "Full details will be launched next week, but businesses are encouraged to register interest as soon as possible. "Demolition machinery will move to Sandbed Street late Monday evening or early Tuesday morning under police escort. Timescale for these works are to be confirmed. Article continues below "Police Scotland have confirmed this is no longer a crime scene." Don't miss the latest Ayrshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Yahoo
Boy, 12, charged over fire that tore through Kilmarnock shops
A 12-year-old boy has been arrested and charged in connection with a fire that tore through a number of town centre shops. Emergency crews were called to the blaze in Kilmarnock's King Street on Monday night. No one was injured, but a number of businesses have been impacted by the destruction. The four-storey building partially collapsed, with East Ayrshire Council confirming parts of the listed property would need to be demolished "as a matter of urgency" to allow for recovery works and further assessments. Police are treating the fire as wilful and have arrested and charged a 12-year-old boy in connection with the incident. A force spokesperson said: "The youth has been released on an undertaking to appear at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court later this month. "The fire is being treated as wilful and enquiries are ongoing." Emergency services were alerted to the fire shortly before 9pm on Monday. At the height of the blaze, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) mobilised six appliances and specialist resources. Read more from Sky News: Douglas Reid, leader of East Ayrshire Council, thanked the efforts of the emergency services as he announced a recovery fund would be implemented to support businesses affected. On Thursday, the local authority said "recovery work continues apace with demolition taking priority over the coming days". The demolition will be carried out in two phases. In the update, the council reported: "Police have confirmed this is no longer a crime scene."
Sky News
17-07-2025
- Sky News
Boy, 12, charged over fire that tore through Kilmarnock shops
A 12-year-old boy has been arrested and charged in connection with a fire that tore through a number of town centre shops. Emergency crews were called to the blaze in Kilmarnock's King Street on Monday night. No one was injured, but a number of businesses have been impacted by the destruction. The four-storey building partially collapsed, with East Ayrshire Council confirming parts of the listed property would need to be demolished "as a matter of urgency" to allow for recovery works and further assessments. Police are treating the fire as wilful and have arrested and charged a 12-year-old boy in connection with the incident. A force spokesperson said: "The youth has been released on an undertaking to appear at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court later this month. "The fire is being treated as wilful and enquiries are ongoing." Emergency services were alerted to the fire shortly before 9pm on Monday. At the height of the blaze, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) mobilised six appliances and specialist resources. Douglas Reid, leader of East Ayrshire Council, thanked the efforts of the emergency services as he announced a recovery fund would be implemented to support businesses affected. On Thursday, the local authority said "recovery work continues apace with demolition taking priority over the coming days". The demolition will be carried out in two phases.
Daily Record
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Labubu doll fakes spread across Ayrshire as residents warned
The counterfeit dolls have flooded the market after Labubu experienced an explosion in popularity. Ayrshire residents are again being warned about the "serious safety risks" posed by counterfeit Labubu dolls after 24 shops were found stocking them and over 100 fakes were seized. East Ayrshire Trading Standards visited 80 stores across the region and found 30 per cent were selling the fakes which have flooded the market. Unlike authentic Labubu dolls, which adhere to rigorous safety and quality standards, the fake versions may be manufactured using substandard or hazardous materials, including toxic plastics and harmful dyes and are poorly constructed with small parts that could present a choking hazard. Of the 24 stores found selling fakes, 23 removed them from shelves when advised by Trading Standards. The remaining shop had 111 counterfeits seized after continuing to sell them. Originally designed by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung, the Labubu dolls have exploded in popularity and have been spotted with celebrities like Rihanna, Dua Lipa and Cher. This craze has prompted an increase in the number of unauthorised fakes which are being sold through unverified online marketplaces as well as local shops, posing "serious safety risks" to children. Councillor Graham Barton, East Ayrshire Council cabinet member with responsibility for planning, property and environment, said: 'We are concerned about the health and safety implications of these counterfeit products. 'It is often very tempting to buy a cheaper replica in a desire to keep up with the latest trends, but we would urge all consumers to purchase Labubu dolls only from official retailers and trusted sellers and to report any concerns to Trading Standards." How to spot a fake Labubu doll Packaging - authentic dolls come with original branded packaging and security labels. There shouldn't be any tape closing the box and there should be a UK importers address on it. Quality - fakes often have bad paintwork, misshapen features, seams ripping easily, arms/legs falling off and no CE or UKCA mark on their label. Price - be wary of prices significantly below standard retail. Source - avoid unfamiliar websites or sellers lacking verified credentials. What should you do? Report suspicious listings or sellers to Trading Standards Avoid purchasing from unofficial channels. Check authenticity through the QR code on the doll itself, it should go to a Pop Mart link – watch out for copycat websites. If you have any concerns about any counterfeit or potentially unsafe products being sold locally, including Labubu dolls, please contact Trading Standards on 01563 576790.
