Incinerator objections reach 1,000 in area
The fight against a planned incinerator near Cambuslang reached a milestone this week as campaigners collected their 1,000th letter of objection.
Halfway Community Council took their fight against the proposed Blantyre incinerator to doorsteps in Halfway at the weekend when the total number of people opposing the plan tipped over the 1,000 mark.
The Halfway letters will be added to others collected in the Newton, Drumsagard and Westburn areas and be handed in to South Lanarkshire Council.
The local authority is currently assessing a proposal by Clean Power Properties to build an energy from waste plant on Whistleberry Road, Blantyre.
Its associated flume, measuring 90 metres, is expected to spread emissions across a six-mile radius and carry pollutants to Rutherglen and Cambuslang.
Liisa Hepworth, secretary of Halfway Community Council, which is fiercely opposed to the development, said: “We have received overwhelming support against the incinerator plans and have now collected over 1,000 individual signed objections from these communities which will be submitted to South Lanarkshire Council’s planning department later this week.
“We were happy to see that Cambuslang Community Council have now objected to the plans and also last week North Lanarkshire Council itself put in an objection letter.”
Liisa and her Halfway colleagues are particularly concerned about the Blantyre proposal as other incinerators have already been approved at Polmadie in Glasgow and Carnbroe in North Lanarkshire.
They believe the trio could leave Cambuslang residents trapped in a toxic triangle of pollution.
She added: “Many in the community knew nothing about the plans for the large waste incinerator near to them and the effects of having three large waste incinerators so close to Cambuslang.
“We have been advised that it will be early next year before this controversial planning application goes in front of South Lanarkshire Council so we are continuing with our campaign making more of our residents in Cambuslang East communities aware.”
Letters of objection are available to sign at MSP Clare Haughey’s constituency office at 85 Main Street, Rutherglen.