GOVERNMENT ministers have been handed the file – again – on a bid for a gasification plant languishing in limbo for more than a year.

The controversial plan by W.H. Malcolm to expand their site in South Street was rejected by Glasgow City Council in early 2016 after widespread opposition from politicians and residents.

It then passed to the national planning reporter, who then sent it to ministers to decide, only to be punted back to the reporter who asked more questions of Glasgow City Council and others, prompting a spate of new objection letters in recent months.

Residents, community councils and politicians all repeated their opposition to the site but there is still no final decision.

And even if the government does approve the plan, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) can refuse a licence to operate, halting the development in its tracks.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Scottish ministers will carefully consider the reasoning and recommendations.

“A copy of the report will be made available once a decision has been made.”

SNP MSP Bill Kidd said he was of the opinion that “unless and until there is specific information on concrete proposals that address their being benefits for his constituents, this application still has to be opposed”.

He added that the concerns of residents, and groups representing them, still don’t look like they have been given enough consideration, nor information about the possible scope, penetration or impact of the “district heating” part of the proposal.

Glasgow North West MP Carol Monaghan, of the SNP, said: “I remain opposed to this development. The application first came to light following minimal consultation carried out by the developers, which only extended a few hundred yards into residential areas despite the fact that a much wider area would be affected by such a development.

“From the start, the local community have felt excluded by this process and feel that there has been very little attempt by the developer to engage in any meaningful dialogue or to allay the community’s concerns.

“Already, heavy goods vehicles frequently travel through residential areas and I remain concerned about the impact of increased traffic associated with these plans.”

A spokesman for W.H. Malcolm said: “The reporter asked parties including W.H. Malcolm, Glasgow City Council and SEPA for further information pertaining to the planning appeal.

“This information has been provided and we expect a decision in the near future.”