People power
Almost 600 people from Cambuslang East have signed letters of objection opposing the planned incinerator in Blantyre.
The letters, collected from residents in the Halfway, Newton and Drumsagard areas, were on Friday handed to the planning department of South Lanarkshire Council.
Almost 600 people from Cambuslang East have signed letters of objection opposing the planned incinerator in Blantyre.
The letters, collected from residents in the Halfway, Newton and Drumsagard areas were handed into the planning department of South Lanarkshire Council on Friday.
And hundreds more are likely to be submitted in the coming weeks as Rutherglen communities join the fight against the proposal.
South Lanarkshire Council 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: “Over the last two weeks we have concentrated our community awareness efforts in door-to-door campaigning, talking to people in Drumsagard and Newton who are only a few miles away from the proposed Whistleberry site.
“Members of our community are genuinely concerned about the levels of pollution in the area. We have collected almost 600 objections from this area already which adds to the many thousands already collected from Blantyre, Hamilton and other surrounding areas.”
Explaining other incinerators have already been approved at Polmadie and Carnbroe, Liisa also said local authorities need to take an overall look at the accumulation of these large polluters.
Clare Haughey, MSP for Rutherglen and Cambuslang, has contacted the Scottish Government on behalf of the local community.
She said: “I have been happy to support the great grassroots work done within my constituency on this issue by both Halfway Community Council and Blantyre Community Council. Along with the Hamilton Energy Recovery Action Group, and other community organisations, over 6,000 objections have now been lodged with the council against these plans.
“There is still time to lodge objection letters and these can be obtained from any of the above organisations, or can be signed at my constituency office at 85 Main Street, Rutherglen.”
James Kelly, list MSP for Glasgow region, together with Martin Lennon and Bankhead Tenants Association members, collected 100 letters of objection on Rutherglen Main Street on Saturday.
Mr Kelly said: “The strength of feeling across the local area is clear – people do not want this incinerator dumped on their doorstep, polluting our community.”