The monitoring of blasts at a controversial Fife quarry will continue despite an independent review clearing the operator of any wrongdoing.
Fife Council officers recommended the ceasing of measuring activity at the Lomond Quarry, near Leslie, after publication of the review findings.
Given the level of public concern over blasting at the complex, councillors have instead voted to continue measuring the noise and vibration caused by detonations at the site.
Councillor Altany Craik said: “If I was living there I don’t think I would be happy, either.
“There is more to it than just nuisance levels. We have still got nowhere with mediation.
“There has been a lot of hard work to get there but I don’t think we are at a stage where we can say we are happy.”
His concerns were echoed by councillor John Wincott, who said that concern among residents is not going away.
“I would challenge the view that it is a small number of people in Leslie that are upset,” he said.
“That number is growing and people that were not complaining before are complaining now.”
After complaints from residents, an independent review into the quarry, operated by the Skene Group, was given the go-ahead by Fife Council in 2012.
Vibration and noise levels were checked against those agreed when Skene Group was given planning permission for the quarry, with the report finding the company to be working within the agreed criteria.
Despite this, residents remain concerned about blasting at the site.
Skene Group, meanwhile, has repeatedly stated its desire to work within planning criteria and to engage with the people of Leslie.
Councillor Ross Vettraino said that further monitoring was unnecessary and detrimental to the local authority.
“Fife Council’s resources are finite and in diverting all resources here, it means that something else is not being addressed,” he said.
“In my ward there are issues that could be addressed but there is a lack of resources.
“I don’t see what can be gained by further monitoring.
“Not a single reason has been demonstrated for diverting council resources to this.”
Councillors voted by six to three to continue the monitoring project.