How is Falkirk Council responding following the industrial action taken at the refinery at Grangemouth?
Falkirk is a member of the Central Scotland Strategic Co-ordinating Group (SCG) and is working with our partners to ensure that our communities will experience minimal inconvenience and the needs of our most vulnerable people will be met.
Falkirk Council's senior management team has also met and is keeping the impact of the ongoing dispute under constant review. At the moment, we do not foresee any disruption to the services we provide and it is business as usual.
SCG Members include Central Scotland Police; Central Scotland Fire and Rescue Service; Falkirk Council; Stirling Council; Clackmannanshire Council; NHS Forth Valley; Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Scottish Ambulance Service.
The group is meeting regularly to discuss the ongoing industrial dispute at INEOS, Grangemouth, and prepare for any potential impact on our local communities and services.
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If fuel shortages were to occur what would happen?
We have been assured that there are sufficient fuel supplies to meet demand if motorists maintain normal buying patterns.
We have detailed business continuity plans which identify our essential services and these plans allow us to target available resources towards continuing to provide these services.
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What are essential services?
Essential services are those we deliver to our most vulnerable citizens and services that are essential to keep our communities functioning safely. These services have already been identified by the Council and the necessary preparations have been made to ensure that we can continue to deliver them.
Examples of this include:
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home care support, including meals on wheels
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social work for vulnerable children and adults
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residential care for children and adults
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schools and nurseries, including school meals
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refuse collection
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emergency housing repairs and homelessness
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road safety
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burials
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Where can I find out more?
You will find the most up-to-date information about the impact of the industrial action on our homepage|. Any new information that becomes available regarding the situation will be posted there as soon as possible.
We will also ensure information is passed to the public via the local newspapers and radio as well as BBC Online News (Tayside and Central).
Elected representatives will continue to be briefed on the situation.
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What preparations are being made by NHS Forth Valley?
NHS Forth Valley is also a member of the Central Scotland Strategic Co-ordinating Group (SCG) and is working with its partners to ensure that communities will experience minimal inconvenience.
Senior NHS Forth Valley staff have met to ensure that services are prepared for any impact of the ongoing dispute and that services continue.
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If there are fuel shortages how will this affect the services provided by NHS Forth Valley?
NHS Forth Valley already has detailed plans in place which allow them to identify and maintain our essential services. These services are delivered to the most vulnerable in our communities and NHS Forth Valley has already identified those who could be most affected.
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How is SEPA involved at the plant?
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has been working with INEOS throughout the shutdown process. The process was carefully managed by the company and similarly, SEPA will be on site with INEOS throughout the restart process as well.
With regards to the environmental impact, pollutant levels from monitors show that levels are consistent with what would be found during normal operation and SEPA will continue to monitor these throughout the restart.
SEPA is supporting the Strategic Co-ordinating Group (SCG) who are working with other partners such as the local authorities and NHS Forth Valley to ensure that our communities will experience minimal inconvenience during the situation.
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Has there been an environmental impact?
SEPA has been monitoring air quality in the local area during the plant shut down. Pollutant levels continue to be at levels similar to those observed during normal operation and there is no evidence of any adverse impact. Noise levels during flaring have also not been excessive.
No complaints from the public have been received by SEPA to date.
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What is SEPA doing now?
As the environmental regulator for the site, SEPA is working closely with the site management, and will monitor the restart processes closely to ensure environmental impacts are minimised.
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Should I be concerned over safety once the refinery starts up again?
No. The shutdown of the plant was done in a controlled manner which was carefully monitored at every step. This was carried out by industry itself and was done in an approved manner by Health and Safety Executive. SCG partners were kept informed of progress and are monitoring the situation regularly.
The start-up process will also be done in a controlled and phased manner. SCG partners will liaise with industry during this period to ensure community safety is maintained.
You may notice over the coming days more flaring as a result of the restart. The air quality and noise will continue to be monitored during this period. The results of SEPA's monitoring are being posted on the SEPA website at www.sepa.org.uk/news/releases|.
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