Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Waste plant changes get the thumbs down
Controversial changes included 80 metre stack
Campaigners are celebrating after a new application to amend the controversial energy from waste plant at Carnbroe – including trebling the height of its ventilation stack to 80 metres – was refused by North Lanarkshire Council.
There was applause from a busy public gallery at the civic centre as members of the planning subcommittee unanimously rejected the application, overturning a recommendation to grant from planning officials.
Applicants North Lanarkshire Bio Power were seeking permission for changes to the existing pyrolysis plant permission granted on appeal to the Scottish Government in 2011, including the new stack, plus increasing the annual fuel tonnage and energy output by 24,000 tonnes and 4.4 megawatts respectively, halving the footprint of the processing building and improving access arrangements.
Maggie Proctor, of Monklands Residents Against Pyrolysis Plant (MRAPP), told the Advertiser: “We felt the councillors delivered exactly what we asked of them and we’re so pleased they’re on our side.
“That’s what democracy and representing the community area is all about; the speeches they gave captured all the elements and all our fears.”
More than 250 letters of objection were received, along with a 1300-signature Facebook petition, objections from three community councils and submissions from local MSPs Fulton MacGregor and Alex Neil plus Holyrood colleagues Richard Lyle, Margaret Mitchell, Graham Simpson, Monica Lennon and Clare Haughey.
Councillors lined up to speak out against the amended application – with several having requested special permission to speak and share objectors’ concerns about the potential impact on health, air and noise pollution, traffic, the environment, proximity to homes and visual impact.
Ms Proctor added: “They realised the impact on homes, schools and workers next to the incinerators and in other areas. We can’t find one person who says this would be a good idea, and these plans were worse than the original.
“We’re relieved but we aren’t going anywhere – there’s constant determination to fight against this and it shows the tenacity of the community as we’ve never wavered over 10 years.”
Shawhead tenants’ and residents’ chair Irene Gillies added: “This is right at the back of our area and the impact would have been terrible.
“We’ve been fighting this since day one and I want to thank the councillors for supporting us and for everything they’ve done.”
Planning officials had recommended that the changed plans for the energy from waste plant be given the go-ahead – after noting that the principle of the development already has the green light following a lengthy legal battle.
North Lanarkshire councillors refused the original application from Shore Energy in 2010, but their decision was overturned by Scottish Government reporters on appeal the next year; the local authority then twice took the case to the Court of Session, but was unsuccessful each time.
Planners summarised that the new application included improved technology with lower emissions, and removal of the consented materials recovery facility to store and treat waste; but highlighted as “negatives” the trebled stack height, increase in amount of fuel being delivered and “significant amount of public objection”.
Councillors were reminded: “The Scottish Ministers’ decision established acceptability [ of the energy from waste use] in 2011; that proposal could be built out right now and the principle is not the subject of this application.”
A report noted: “The developer seeks to make changes to ensure it remains commercially viable and is capable of meeting technical requirements.
“Proposed amendments to the scale, appearance, technical design and operational function are considered acceptable as there would be no significant adverse environmental impacts.
“The 80m stack height is clearly visible from a wide area, however it is located further away from existing and proposed residential properties; [and] industrial buildings of significant height are located less than a mile away.”
Bio Power declined to comment on the decision.