Concerns have been raised about a stench emanating from a Fife sewage plant ahead of the Queen’s visit to the Queensferry Crossing.
The Queen will officially open the new road bridge on Monday and there are fears the nearby waste water treatment plant will leave a bad smell hanging in the air.
Scottish Water recently completed a £2.2 million upgrade of the plant, which included measures to control odours.
Some locals claim the smell is still as bad and Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Alex Rowley said he would be meeting with Scottish Water to discuss the issue.
Mr Rowley said: “It is disappointing that despite the additional investment the smells are still around and I hope Scottish Water can explain why they think this is and what further action they can take.
“It would also be helpful if they gave an explanation of the workings of the plant given that smells seem to increase when tankers are unloading sewage from other plants.”
Dalgety Bay resident Richard Turnbull, who drives across the Forth Road Bridge to work, said: “We’ve got the Queen going over this in a few days’ time and what’s she going to think?
“I don’t think Scottish Water is doing enough about this. When the wind is blowing from west to east, the smell is still pungent.”
Mr Turnbull, 55, added: “They need to do something about it because it’s an embarrassment.
“There’s a big sign saying welcome to Fife and the first thing that hits you is that stench.
“People are coming from all over the world to walk over the new bridge and they’re going to be walking into that.”
Dunfermline waste water treatment works, which is sandwiched between the Forth Road Bridge and the new Queensferry Crossing, serves around 82,000 customers in Fife.
Scottish Water said odours from sewage treatment plants could never be completely eradicated, but steps were being taken to mitigate the impact on residents.
A spokeswoman for the corporation said: “We continually monitor odours at the plant and work closely with residents and the local community to mitigate any impact. We have an odour management plan in place with the local authority and would encourage the public to report any odour issues to us.
“The catalyst for the £2.2m investment to the Dunfermline waste water treatment works was the conclusion of a long term contract with an external operator and the opportunity to better mitigate odours at the plant.
“The project encompassed the design, supply and installation of a new indoor sludge thickening system. This included replacing the existing pumps, adding new sealed skips and refurbishing the odour control system.”
