OPPONENTS to a container terminal at Rosyth Dockyard claim the site could become a "white elephant".
A six-week public inquiry into the plans begins today, which will examine the case for and against the multi-million pound proposals by Babcock International Group, which have been backed by the Scottish Government and could create 450 jobs in the area.
Joint Action Group (JAG), a team of local residents from nearby Limekilns, Charlestown and Pattiesmuir, have objected on the grounds that it will destroy their quality of life and threaten the local economy. They claim that millions of pounds of taxpayers' money could be wasted on the site.
JAG spokeswoman Sue Hamilton said: "We are concerned that the public could end up subsidising another white elephant through unnecessary, expensive, dedicated rail infrastructure for an unviable project which seems to have been blindly endorsed by politicians."
Forth Ports and Scottish National Heritage are also opposing the plans.
However, Babcock claim the development is "nationally significant".
Business development director David McGinley said: "This project has the potential to advance our development and vision of turning Rosyth into a thriving, dynamic port that will act as an international gateway for businesses in Scotland and across the UK."
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