A "stench of crude oil" emanating from the new Ardrossan Campus site has led to complaints to North Ayrshire Council from neighbours.

They believe test bores during remediation work at the former Shell oil refinery site are to blame for the "appalling" smell.

Residents in the town's Sweeney Court, which lies next to the proposed site of the new Ardrossan Academy and Winton Primary, raised their concerns with the council this week.

Contractors at the site have now used a different odour suppressant method to nullify the stench.

The council has insisted that plans for the regeneration of the area remain unaffected.

But neighbours remain concerned that deeper test bores to be carried out at the refinery will lead to more issues.

One resident said: "Over the past few days there has been an extremely strong smell of oil in the air coming from the site.

"If this smell continues to be as strong, it is going to make people sick. There has also been a black substance on the beach near the area."

Another neighbour added: "The smell was awful - it seemed to be crude oil. I complained to the council and then contractors sprayed something to nullify the stench.

"My worry is that if they carry out deeper test bores, it will get worse. It was a refinery for years, so the oil will have seeped deep into the ground."

Read more: https://www.ardrossanherald.com/news/23513214.ardrossan-campus-north-ayrshire-council-lodges-detailed-plans/

A spokesperson for North Ayrshire Council said: “A member of the public raised concerns with our Environmental Health Officers about an odour in the vicinity of the remediation works taking place at the North Shore site in Ardrossan.

“Remediation of the site is being carried out by a contractor, Sanctus Ltd, on behalf of North Ayrshire Council.

“Sanctus has confirmed that they are now using an alternative odour suppressant method alongside continued environmental monitoring. No further complaints have been received.

“The presence of an odour during the remediation works on this site is not unexpected, and plans for the regeneration of the area remain unaffected."

Building work on the campus was originally due to get underway last year following remediation work at the former Shell site, with a provisional opening date of August 2025.

But that was pushed back after a tendering exercise for enabling works at the site failed to secure a contractor.

The latest completion date of August 2026 is subject to approval of the planning application and remediation of the "toxic" land.

The campus - now with an estimated cost of £80.3million - is to include early years, primary and secondary school facilities, replacing the current Winton Primary School and early years classes and Ardrossan Academy.