A SCOTTISH Egyptian writer is working on a novel about Grangemouth’s petrochemical plant and the legacy it will leave behind if its threatened closure goes ahead next year.
Rachelle Atalla, who grew up in the Falkirk area, has won a year-long residency to help her research for The Refinery which will be her fourth novel.
She said it would be her “most ambitious, multi-layered and personal novel yet”.
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Refinery owners Petroineos announced the refinery closure plan in November, blaming shrinking profit margins. Around 500 jobs depend directly on the terminal with 2000 contractor jobs also dependent on the site.
Critics claim its closure would have a catastrophic effect on the economy of Scotland’s Central Belt.
Alba depute leader Kenny MacAskill (below) has launched a campaign to save the “strategic asset”. He has called on the UK Government to intervene to prevent the site from closing as it will leave Scotland as one of just a handful of oil-producing countries without a refinery within its borders.
“Grangemouth is already profitable but by making the required investment as called for by the workers and Unite, that profitability would be increased threefold and the future of the refinery would be secured beyond 2025,” MacAskill said.
Atalla said that as someone who grew up in Stirlingshire, she wished to explore the heritage and legacy of home in the face of climate change.
She added that winning her year-long residency had come at a “pivotal” moment.
“I’m immensely grateful for the opportunity, support and belief the Dr Gavin Wallace Fellowship allows as I embark on my most ambitious, multi-layered and personal novel yet,” she said.
The fellowship is hosted by the Division of Literature and Languages at the University of Stirling and, supported by The National Lottery through Creative Scotland, is designed to support Scotland-based mid-career and established writers to develop new work.
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“I look forward to engaging with the people of Stirlingshire and the faculty and students in the Division of Literature and Languages, exchanging thoughts and ideas on the effects post-industrialisation has on the land and people of Scotland’s Central Belt,” said Atalla.
Alongside a stipend of £20,000 to fund her through the 12-month residency, Atalla will be able to engage with experts at the university, students on the MLitt in Creative Writing and the general public through events and activities around the upcoming Stirling 900 celebrations.
Dr Liam Bell, senior lecturer in creative writing at the University of Stirling, said: “In a diverse and extremely impressive field of applications which really showcased the strength of the Scottish writing community, Rachelle’s project fitted our chosen brief of heritage extremely well, with a thematic interest in the history of the industry and the economy of Central Scotland and an imaginative leap into what comes next for the region.”
Dr Harriet MacMillan, literature officer at Creative Scotland, added: “Rachelle is a dynamic voice in Scottish literature and this fellowship comes at such an exciting point in her career. The University of Stirling is an ideal pairing with her work, given their expertise in both historical and speculative fiction, as well as their research into the climate emergency.
“The fellowship is a uniquely valuable opportunity and over the years it has produced some truly stellar writing, inspired by the environment where it takes place. We look forward to seeing the work Rachelle creates as part of the fellowship’s esteemed cohort of authors. Our thanks go to the university as it supports Rachelle through this project.”
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