Plansfor waste facility
A company has submitted revised plans to build a controversial energy-fromwaste site.
Barr Environmental say they want to enhance their energy recovery park at their Killoch site in Ochiltree.
The company already has planning consent for an energy-from-waste facility using gasification technology.
However, they now want to update that consent through a new planning application in order to make use of more energy efficient ‘moving grate’ technology.
The move is expected to be met with stiff opposition with fears that thousands of tonnes of rubbish will be transported to Ayrshire every month.
Opponents to the venture have also raised fears that toxins will get into the food chain via cattle and crops.
The application has been submitted following a public consultation, which was held between December 2020 and February 2021.
They say that the new facility will “safely, cleanly and sustainably” manage up to 166,000 tonnes of nonrecyclable waste from across the region each year and generate enough electricity to meet the needs of around 40,000 homes.
Plans would also enable Barr to create 17 new jobs and safeguard a further 60 which are already part of its existing operations.
There will be approximately 400 new construction jobs available during the 30-month construction phase of the facility, with a significant number of those jobs likely to be available to local businesses employing local workers.
Planning officers at East Ayrshire Council will now review the application and conduct their own consultation on the proposals.
Gavin Ramsey, managing director at Barr Environmental, said: “This represents an important milestone for the project and brings us one step closer to delivering this vital part of waste management infrastructure.
“Government policy will see us needing to manage our resources more responsibly in the coming years and drive waste away from landfill.
“This means there’s a real need for facilities such as the one we’re proposing. If consented, the Killoch ERP will enable East Ayrshire to manage non-recyclable waste cleanly and safely, creating jobs and generating electricity for Scottish homes and businesses.”