A LONG-RUNNING battle by householders to cut noise pollution from a neighbouring freight railway line has taken a step closer as the local council prepare to issue an "abatement notice" to Network Rail.
It comes after Stirling Council were recently advised of the findings of environmental consultants, commissioned by the local authority to look into noise and vibration issues around the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine (SAK) railway line.
The consultants concluded that the night time operation of freight trains on the SAK line constituted noise and vibration nuisance for those living nearby.
In a statement, the council said it will serve an abatement notice to Network Rail, the body which owns the UK's railways, and the freight operators who use the SAK line in relation to the noise and vibration caused, particularly during night time hours.
The locomotives are mainly transporting coal to Longgannet Power Station near Kincardine.
Residents have complained for years about the high levels of noise from the track, and some said it was causing their properties to shake.
Environment Convenor, Councillor Danny Gibson, said: "This has been an ongoing saga for residents living alongside the line and though the serving of this notice is not necessarily the end of the matter I hope it will be a sign of how seriously the Council takes their concerns and how determined we are to see this matter resolved in their favour."
Mr Gibson added: "The process now is that we ensure the abatement notice is served as soon as possible.
"This may be subject to challenge, but we will face that if and when that arises."
A spokesman for ScotRail Alliance, which represents ScotRail and Network Rail, said: "The construction of the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine line was managed by Clackmannanshire Council and Stirling Council.
"The line was built primarily to carry freight traffic and since we accepted the line into our network, we have worked with Transport Scotland and the local authorities to review and adjust, where appropriate, the noise mitigation measures in place along the line."
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