Hamilton’s Councillor, SNP candidate, MSPs and MPs have united in opposition to the proposed incinerator development on Whistleberry Road, Hamilton.
Councillor Stephanie Callaghan, SNP candidate Jason Douglas, Richard Lyle MSP, Christina McKelvie MSP, Angela Crawley MP and Margaret Ferrier MP have all said that they will oppose the new development.
The proposal includes the ‘erection of an energy recovery facility comprising a materials recovery plant and advanced thermal treatment facility with an integrated education and visitor centre, access, landscaping and associated works’.
As reported by the Hamilton Advertiser last week, the communities affected have already raised a number of concerns about the development and will campaign against the proposal.
The proposal is currently at pre-application stage and there is a requirement to put the proposal to consultation. All politicians have stated that they will submit objections to the consultation reflecting their constituent’s views.
In a joint statement, Angela, Margaret, Christina, Richard, Stephanie and Jason said:
“We are completely opposed to the development and will stand with local people in campaigning for South Lanarkshire Council to refuse the application.
“The size of the stack, the potential environmental impact and the negative influence of property value are all of concern to our constituents.
“This is a new development and should be treated as such. However, we welcome the steps the Scottish Government have taken to ensure Ministers have sight of any planning decision before a reporter can make an independent assessment.
“We must also learn lessons this time from South Lanarkshire Council’s lack of meaningful objections when the developer appealed to the Independent Reporter.
“If the planning application is rejected at committee stage and the SNP are in administration at South Lanarkshire Council, we as Councillors, MSPs and MPs will work to provide enough official objections to the development so we don’t encounter the same problems as before.