‘Talking green - but acting dirty’
Proposals to develop a massive industrial rail transport hub at Ravenscraig have been described by one Lanarkshire MSP as a“white elephant”.
The Scottish Greens Gillian Mackay, alongside the Ravenscraig Community Action Group, has set up an online community consultation asking for the people of Motherwell and the surrounding areas to submit their vision for the former steelworks site.
Ms Mackay told the Wishaw Press: “The developers are talking green and acting dirty.
“This white elephant proposal would change the character of Motherwell forever and it is not the vision that residents were sold for their community.
“It’s time for the new community Lanarkshire was promised, building back better from the pandemic, not massive industrial buildings and 800 dirty diesel HGV’s passing by a number of schools in the town 24 hours a day.
“I strongly oppose this development and would encourage other elected representatives, Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, North Lanarkshire Council (NLC), net zero public agencies and partners, to work with residents to develop alternative, more ambitious and more appropriate proposals for this national development priority.
“COP26 is just round the corner and the eyes of the world are on Scotland.
“This would see an increase in light and air pollution, have a huge environmental and ecological impact, as well as loss of ancient woodland.
“We’re asking the people of Motherwell to put forward their vision for the future. Do we want more overindustrialisation, or do we want a fairer, greener, society committed to tackling emissions?”
The Ravenscraig Community Action Group has engaged in what it labels a “David and Goliath” battle, fighting plans which would see the industrial freight hub built on land earmarked for 1000 new homes.
More than 600 formal objections have been lodged against the proposals.
Elaine Morris from the group said: “I am furious about the change of plans for this area.
“These proposals are incompatible with the development plan, the local plan and the Ravenscraig masterplan.
“Like nearly 1000 families, we came to Ravenscraig on the promise of a new, thriving, sustainable and safe community. It’s a direct broken promise made to local families.”
The proposed development would ser ve as the Russell Group’s UK headquarters and would include a training academy while also functioning as a “test bed” for innovation in the transport industry.
Developers said the hub would create 200 jobs when operational.