CONFUSION remains over what the public will be told about the extent of contamination at the former Exxon site near Bowling.

As reported in the Post, a confidentiality agreement between Exxon and West Dunbartonshire Council meant the council will be given first option to buy the land. But reports of what’s in the ground won’t be available to the public, or all elected councillors, to debate.

Council leader Martin Rooney wrote on the Post’s sister title the Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter’s Facebook page that “the council will know all the facts when it’s time to make a decision”.

In response to a comment from Cllr Jim Bollan calling for the report to be made public, Cllr Rooney wrote: “It will be made public, Jim, as well you know but you will be retired by then. The decision will be taken in public by the next council.”

A West Dunbartonshire Council spokesman added: “The required information will be provided to elected members at the appropriate time to allow future project decisions to be made.”

However, it remains unclear if the full report will be provided to all councillors and released to the public. When contacted by the Post, Cllr Rooney did not clarify if the public and all councillors will have access to the full report.

He said: “The development of the Exxon site at Bowling is a major strategic development that will bring vital business opportunities and jobs for our area.

“The strategic nature of the development means it will be the next council administration that will be taking the key decisions on this. To help inform these decisions, a range of studies into the various aspects of the site such as decontamination, flood prevention, flora and fauna, and so on will be undertaken. Some of these will have to take place at specific times, particularly the ones related to nature. The surveys are being done to inform the remediation strategy so the site will ultimately be in a fit condition for commercial use.

“So, regardless of what the condition survey says, Exxon’s obligation is to remediate the site to the required condition to satisfy SEPA and WDC Environmental Health. The agreement with Exxon allows council officers to share information with those who will be involved in the decision-making.”

Cllr Rooney did not clarify whether only those involved in the decision-making will receive access to the report.

Speaking after a meeting of the council earlier this month, Dumbarton councillor George Black said: “This is far too important to be sent to committee. These reports have got to come to council. It’s totally unacceptable to me I cannot be updated on the site.”

“The general public knows it’s a heavily contaminated site. They want to know how effective the bioremediation has been.”