The site of a planned substation for the European offshore Wind Deployment Centre in Aberdeenshire contains traces of asbestos, it has emerged.
The location, which would handle power from the controvresial offshore windfarm site, was found to have low level traces of asbestos fibre in soil samples tested at the brownfield site near Blackdog.
The findings come after the developers beind the project submitted their environmental statement to Aberdeenshire council for the £230million project’s substation and underground cables.
But the operators of the project have vowed to carefully clear up the site if they get approval to develop it for their substation.
“It is not unusual to find traces of asbestos in brownfield sites such as this, where there are areas of former industrial workings including a former landfill, and the site investigation findings are generally as expected,” said EOWDC spokesman Iain Todd.
“Should the development proceed, we will of course implement all proper control measures in terms of health and safety, environmental protection and waste disposal.
“The partners behind the EOWDC have always informed the local community of their commitment to improving any areas of ground where contaminants are discovered if consent is granted for the onshore works in order to render it safe for development.
“Indeed, we believe any such remediation work required would greatly improve the condition of the site.”
The project, which will lie up to 4.5km off the Aberdeen coast and generate up to 100MW, has been at the centre of a row between the Scottish Government and US tycoon Donald Trump, who says the 11 turbines would spoil the view from his nearby golf course.
Holyrood gave the go-ahead for the scheme, which has been earmarked for up to €40million European grant funding, in March.
Aberdeenshire Council’s Formartine Area Committe had called for a site investigation, after delaying a decision on granting planning permission for the onshore aspects of the project earlier this year.
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