BOSSES at Scottish Borders Council don't believe a long-list of gas-blocking safety measures for the planned waste transfer station near Galashiels will bump up the cost of the project.

Since planning permission was passed for the £5.5 million station last year, supplementary reports outlining further protection have been submitted.

The supplementary requirements for preventing toxic gasses escaping from the landfill into the planned building, gas dispersal gravel must be laid on top of capping materials.

The requirements by DAM Geotechnical Services also include protection boards and specialist bolting.

And specific seals are also to be integrated into the emergency sprinkler system.

Stephen Milne, who is a senior environmental scientist, with DAM Geotechnical Services, stated: "The gas protection measures installation, integrity and quality are considered paramount as part of the overall remedial strategy. It is essential that the ground floor slab are effectively installed, with no defects and with suitable documentation."

Increasing levels of methane and other toxic gasses have been recorded at the Easter Langlee landfill site in recent years.

Data released by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency last month revealed 451,000 kilos of methane were sent into the atmosphere from the rotting garbage in 2017, 27 percent more than in 2016.

Environment bosses at the local authority believe the closure of the landfill site later this year and the opening of the transfer station will lead to a reduction in gas emissions.

Despite the required new safety measurements during the building of the transfer station, they are confident costs won't increase.

A spokesperson said: “A remediation strategy was developed at the start of the project which included a series of protection measures such as a reinforced concrete slab with minimal service penetrations, granular capping layer with plastic vent carrier pipes and an impervious gas membrane.

“The final part of the strategy is to provide an impervious surface around the access points.

"All of these measures were agreed and approved by the council’s contaminated land officer and included in the recent supplementary report.

“These remediation measures are nearing completion, with the final surfacing due to take place in March prior to the facility opening early summer.

"The cost of these works were calculated at the start of the project and form part of the overall £5.5m project cost.”