A CONTROVERSIAL expansion of a waste energy plant in Whiteinch has been rejected by councillors, Tristan Stewart-Robertson reports.

With nearly 1,000 objections, politicians threw out a recommendation from their planners to green light the plan for South Street including a 230ft chimney. 

Glasgow City Council's planning applications committee rejected the application for the WH Malcolm expansion of its existing plant at a meeting on Tuesday. 

Reacting, former MSP Cllr Bill Butler said: "Congratulations to campaigners against the incinerator at Whiteinch. I am glad the concerns of local people were listened to and rejected it." 

Under the plan, materials would have been "gasified" on site including office waste, plastic, paper and wood. 

Amongst  950 objections were Bill Kidd MSP, councillors, six community councils, Friends of Victoria Park, residents' association, school councils and Friends of the Earth. 

Martin Kiely, managing director of WH Malcolm, said: “We are disappointed by the decision of the committee to refuse the application. As was made clear when the council officers recommended approval in their report, and with no objections from statutory consultees, the proposed facility would be firmly in line with planning policy at both a local and national level.

“The Scottish Government has published clear objectives on reducing the amount of waste going to landfill. This proven technology would help us achieve that target for Glasgow whilst creating energy from waste and ensuring the next generation of jobs continue at an existing waste processing site.

“We will now consider the grounds for refusal before deciding whether to appeal the decision.” 

A report to councillors on the committee states the plan would turn waste currently sent to landfills into power and heat. Treating rubbish at temperatures up to 1400 centigrade produces a gas in the process. But an extra 15,000 vehicles a year would access the plant under the plant as it receives waste 24/7. 

Even with approval from the council, WH Malcolm would still have had to apply to the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) for a permit. 
Oppoents feared fumes and toxins from the chimney would pose a significant health risk to the local area and the city as a whole. 

Garscadden/Scotstounhill councillor Graeme Hendry, who is one of the many people who have objected to the plan, told our sister title the Evening Times before the meeting: "My concern is there is no proven case of this kind of plant working in the UK and the information provided to me and the community doesn't provide the reassurances they want in the way the plant operates in terms of the safety impact. 

"Another concern is traffic. Dumbarton Road, which is behind the site, is already massively backed up yet we are talking about a massive number of extra lorries coming in. 

"They don't have the confidence of the community in any way, shape or form and I don't think this development should go ahead. 

"WH Malcolm has tried to consult local people but they have been completely unable to convince the community about it."