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Planning minister urged to step in and cancel Whitehill incinerator permission
The battle against a proposal to build an incinerator in Whitehill was highlighted in the Scottish Parliament last week.
Monica Lennon MSP called on the Scottish Government to withdraw planning permission for the proposed facility on Whistleberry Road during a parliamentary debate on Wednesday.
The former Hamilton councillor directed her plea to the SNP’S local government and housing minister Kevin Stewart.
Ms Lennon said: “Whitehill residents value green space and they have fought hard for resources to reduce health inequalities.
“The community faced adversity.
“It recently lost its library as a result of austerity and it is certainly in no mood to gain an incinerator.”
Plans for the incinerator were rejected by South Lanarkshire Council in 2014 but the developer appealed and has also 12 months later the Scottish Government issued planning permission.
A second application by Clean Power Properties for a larger scheme is still being considered by South Lanarkshire Council.
Ms Lennon said: “According to Scottish planning policy incinerators should be at least 250m away from homes and other sensitive buildings.
“This one will be almost cheek by jowl with homes along Whistleberry Crescent and a site for travelling people.
“Planning should drive up standards in place making and improve the the nation. “Incinerators that are situated in built-up areas and that violate development plans put that at risk. “My plea to the Scottish public health of Government is: please do not turn us into an ash-heap nation.”
Ms Lennon’s speech received cross-party support, particularly from fellow MSPS Richard Lyle, Clare Haughey and Margaret Mitchell.
Mr Stewart, said it was not appropriate to comment on an individual application but added: “We have a clear regulatory framework that extends beyond planning to ensure that decisions on waste facilities are made on the basis of good evidence as well as community views.”
A spokesperson for Clean Power Properties told the Advertiser: “The proposed site already benefits from a planning consent and complies with the necessary local and national planning policy and guidance.
“We are putting forward a proposal which will bring investment, local job opportunities and provide a much-needed facility in a location already consented for a similar use, reducing landfill and creating a sustainable solution to meet current and future waste needs.”
Pauline Elliott, SLC’S head of planning and economic development, said: “A date has not been set for this application to be considered by the council’s planning committee.
“The council will accept representations up until five working days prior to the date of committee.”