MEAT KING’S WASTE PLANS GET THE CHOP
Residents win 11-year battle
Michael McQuaid Fa m i l i e s h ave declared victory over sausage tycoon Simon Howie after an 11-year battle to stop an incinerator being built.
Plans for the facility at Carnbroe, near Coatbridge, were rejected by the Scottish Government last week.
Mi n i s t e r s s a id t he bui ldings, including an 80-metre chimney, would be “out of keeping” with the adjacent residential area.
Residents feared fumes from the plant would put people’s health at risk. But ministers were satisfied that wouldn’t happen.
The site is owned by entrepreneur Howie, best known for his Perthshire
butchery business. His Shore Energy company overcame legal challenges to get planning permission for the Carnbroe plant converting waste materials into energy.
The development did not proceed but three years ago Howie teamed up with another firm, CoGen, and fresh proposals for a bigger facility were lodged.
In 2018, the revised planning application was turned down by North Lanarkshire Council, which received 250 letters from objectors and a petition signed by 1300 people.
John McNairney, the Government’s chief planner, said ministers accepted the development would bring benefits including treating waste that would otherwise go to landfill and generating renewable power.
But the height of the buildings and the proximity to housing would mean a “significant and demonstrable adverse visual impact”.
Coatbridge and Chryston MSP Fulton MacGregor said: “The community have fought this for 11 years and huge credit should go to all of those involved.”
Howie did not respond to our request for a comment.