People living near a battery recycling plant that has burst into flames, sending toxic fumes into the air for the second time in a year, have questioned the “duty of care” provided by its owners.
Emergency services were called to a large scale fire at Fenix Battery Recycling on Byrehill Place in Kilwinning at around 12.42pm on Wednesday.
Plumes of smoke could be seen in the area and “explosions” were heard.
Local resident Marj Agnew said the initial explosion sounded like “a terrorist attack”.
“It was sheer panic and terror,” she said.
“I was out the back door hanging a washing out, and I just heard a giant bang.
“It sounded like it was a terrorist attack. That’s how loud it was, it was terrible.
“There’s toxic fumes in the air. I mean it’s obviously toxic as we can see people in hazard suits.
“The roads around us are all shut down. We shouldn’t be subject to this.”
Lauren McMillianIt comes exactly a year after the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) battled a blaze at the site which had raged for four days.
Resident Lauren McMillian described the blaze as “so scary, again”.
“A lady ran by and said it’s happening again, it’s happening again, and I just instantly knew what she was meaning,” she said.
“I went out the front and the girl across the road was like just stay in, just stay indoors, but my papa lives directly behind me, and he’s himself. So I quickly ran round there to make sure he was alright and turned around, and there it was again.
“Explosions, batteries going everywhere, flames, smoke. It was just so scary again.”
Following the previous explosion in 2024, residents claimed there were promises of “increased fire safety precautions”.
STV NewsLast year two enforcement notices were served by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) requiring Fenix Battery Recycling Ltd to remove waste batteries that have been on the site at West Byrehill Industrial Estate for longer than six months.
However, STV News were told the company behind the factory – Regenerate Technology Global – who had planned to rebuild the site – has since gone into administration, with the director of the company claiming they no longer have anything to do with the site.
Mrs Agnew has said she and her fellow residents are “not happy” that the site was not made safe following the blaze this time last year.
She also confirmed she and her fellow neighbours will be taking legal action over whoever is now in charge of the factory.
“We’re not happy it wasn’t cleared and made safe a year ago,” she added.
“The people from the factory have a duty of care to make sure it’s safe, and they are not doing that.
“It’s a year to the day since the last fire. What are the chances of that. Really it should have been cleared and made safe after the last trauma we went through.
“That’s two times in a year, in a 12-month period, that we’ve been left terrified.
“I’ve got videos to send the insurance company, and I phoned the housing association.
“A lot of neighbours here are not happy at the situation we’ve been put in, and we will be taking legal action.
“We shouldn’t be in a position where we are forced to lock ourselves in and can’t leave our homes, just so we don’t breathe in these toxic fumes.”
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency said it was supporting a multi-agency response to the fire.
“SEPA officers are working closely with partner agencies, have attended the site to take samples from nearby watercourses, and will continue to monitor the situation closely,” a spokesperson said.
“We appreciate that this matter will concern local residents and businesses, and we would urge everyone to follow the advice issued by public partners.”
Fenix Battery Recycling owners Regenerate Technology Global have appointed insolvency practitioners Revolution RTI as liquidators.
STV News has contacted Revolution RTI for comment.
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