Plans to build a new waste incinerator in Scotstoun with a chimney higher than the Titan Crane have attracted almost 1,000 objections.

Glasgow City Council planners recommend approving the controversial scheme but community groups and politicians are among the 950 objectors.

A decision on the proposals had been expected at a meeting of Glasgow City Council’s planning committee yesterday, however the strength of opposition prompted councillors to defer the decision to a public hearing – a move welcomed by opponents. 

Construction firm WH Malcolm is behind the plans for the energy-from-waste plant at South Street at its existing recycling facility.

A 230ft chimney stack would be part of the proposals to  convert waste destined for landfill into power and heat via a gasification process.

Objectors fear the plant will cause air pollution, noise and dust and are concerned about increased traffic.

Whiteinch and Scotstoun community councils are among six community councils which have objected, as have Partick West councillors Baillie Aileen Colleran (Labour), Kenny McLean (SNP) and Feargal Dalton (SNP).

Garscadden and Scotstounhill councillor Graeme Hendry (SNP) has also objected as has local SNP MSP Bill Kidd.

Gillian Morgan, chairwoman of Whiteinch Community Council, said: “Whiteinch Community Council believes that the proposed plant will have an adverse affect on the health of the local community on the north bank of the Clyde. We’re particularly concerned about the gasification plant as other plants of this type have a poor performance record.”

Planners say air quality issues would be negligible and air pollution would be monitored by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency – which has not objected the the scheme.

Mr Kidd said: “The issue of the release of particulates into the air hasn’t been properly addressed. The chimney isn’t just there for show and heavy rains can wash stuff out of the air. It’s quite a serious prospect.”

Cllr Colleran said: “We’ve had poor masterplanning on the north bank of the Clyde and any application that comes along is accepted regardless of the impact on residential areas and the environment. Local councillor and community views are ignored on a regular basis.”

Alasdair Wilson, compliance manager at WH Malcolm, said previously: “The site will continue to handle construction waste while also managing residual commercial and industrial waste such as office rubbish. The plant will operate in a similar way to the energy-from-waste facility currently being built at Polmadie to handle domestic waste for Glasgow City Council. We will not be handling food waste and the design of the facility means no odours from the plant will remain. The site is currently licensed to process up to 495,000 tonnes of waste per annum and this will remain unchanged, whilst traffic movements in and out of our facility will remain lower than when the site opened in 2006 and will represent only a 0.55 per cent increase in traffic levels along South Street.

“As attendees at public exhibitions will have seen, the flue is in keeping with this part of the Clydeside.”