A FIFE MSP has been branded uninformed after he called for more to be done to tackle anti-social noise in Cowdenbeath.

Mark Ruskell, Green MSP for Fife, last week told the Times that Fife Council must move faster to tackle noise in an ongoing dispute between Cowdenbeath residents and Graham’s The Family Dairy.

The Scottish Greens understand that Graham’s were issued with an abatement notice for nuisance noise at their site at Glenfield Industrial estate last year, but local residents have contacted the MSP and the Times to say the noise is continuing to disrupt their lives.

In May 2020 more than 300 people objected to plans to build an anaerobic digestor at the site, with noise being a key concern for local residents.

Mr Ruskell said: “For over a year now, frequent low level noise from Grahams’ facility at the Glenfield Industrial Estate has been causing a misery for people living in neighbouring properties.

“Fife Council has recognised the problem constitutes a statutory nuisance, but months after an abatement notice was issued the noise is still continuing.

“During this time of lockdown, people’s homes should be a safe and peaceful place for them and their families, but being subject to persistent low level noise can make someone’s home a prison.

“Fife Council should use all their powers now to bring this anti-social noise to an end.

“Grahams have submitted two applications in the last year to expand their work at the site, but right now they’re proving to be a nightmare neighbour.

“They need to address the basic nuisance noise coming from their site before any consideration can be giving to new developments like the proposed anaerobic digestor.”

In response, Robert Graham, managing director of Graham’s, told the Times the MSP’s comments were “uninformed”.

Mr Graham said: “Mark Ruskell’s irresponsible and uninformed comments put Fife jobs and livelihoods at risk.

“During the last four years as our local MSP, and before then as a Councillor in Stirling Council, Mark has made no attempt to accept invitations to visit our sites and learn about our business.

“This is despite our family business operating three significant operations within his constituency employing over 430 colleagues, with Glenfield being the largest private sector employer in Cowdenbeath supporting 1 in 3 local jobs.

“Mark's apparent disinterest in our local economy is reflected in the inaccuracies of his comments.

“Glenfield operates in full compliance with environmental standards. Furthermore, we have, and will continue to work with Fife Council officials and our local councillor in addressing local issues as they arise.

“This approach is reflected in our family business investing over £5m into Cowdenbeath since we rescued the site, saving 70 jobs and increasing this to 120 colleagues.

“In directing Fife Council to stop future investment through such ill-informed comments, Mark Ruskell's reckless comments, presumably made with the forthcoming election in mind, show no understanding of the Fife economy.

“Mark Ruskell has my contact details and I would be delighted to talk though the complex, professional and dedicated work our team undertake in Cowdenbeath to producing award winning Scottish food”.

Fife Council service manager Linda Turner said: "We are continuing to investigate the noise levels from Graham's Dairy.

"Any new planning applications relating to the site would consider any noise implications relating to those proposals."