Christina McKelvie – MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse and Màiri McAllan – MSP for Clydesdale have welcomed the announcement by the Scottish Government that planning authorities must notify Scottish Ministers of any applications or decisions involving incineration facilities until the end of the Governments review into incineration.

This decision means that Scottish Ministers will be able to decide case by case whether there are national interests at stake which would merit applications being called in by Ministers. This is the same tool that was used for the effective halt or moratorium on extraction of unconventional oil and gas in Scotland.

This has the potential to impact on the controversial Overwood Farm incinerator proposal from Viridor which has seen unprecedented levels of opposition from local communities.

Commenting Christina said:

“This is a positive move from the Scottish Government to ensure that action will be able to be taken should a flood of planning applications for new incinerators be submitted due to the Government review.

“COP 26 showed the urgent need to improve how we treat our waste, to move as quickly as possible to a circular economy and to continue to bring our emissions down. The UN secretary-general welcomed Scotlands clear target of reaching net zero by 2050 and we must make sure we do all we can to live up to that target.

Commenting Màiri:

“This important direction will make sure that Ministers are informed of any new planning applications relating to incinerators and ensure plans are closely monitored while the review is ongoing

“It should alleviate concerns about a rush of applications being made before the review has completed its work.”

Christina and Màiri said:

“As the MSPs for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse and Clydesdale we remain completely opposed to the proposals from Viridor for an incinerator on the Overwood Farm site, an incinerator that the local community have made it clear they neither want nor need.”