A SOUTH SCOTLAND MSP has challenged the First Minister to take action about the growing concerns over the landfill site in Tarbolton.

MSP Brian Whittle has requested that Nicola Sturgeon addresses the problem as a matter of urgency as local residents voiced their fears about contaminated runoff and other hazards which would normally have been dealt with by the site’s owner before it closed.

Mr Whittle took the issue up with SEPA and the Scottish Government to seek advice on what the next steps would be to stopping this problem.

Nicola Sturgeon said: “I can understand that people in the local area will be very concerned about any prospect of contamination and that is absolutely necessary that all the relevant agencies and organisations respond as quickly as possible.”