Dovesdale Incinerator Action Group Rally 2010

Dovesdale Incinerator Action Group leader Paul McGillivray spoke to the Gazette before a family rally on Sunday afternoon.

More than 500 people made their way to the proposed site at Dovesdale Farm, which was marked by a balloon launch.

Paul said: "There were people of all ages and from every community in this area at the Dovesdale site showing their anger at Scotgen's proposal.

"There are now a total of 8,000 letters of objection with the council and we are hoping that by the end of this week that figure will be around 12,000."

People from a number of local communities gathered on Sunday to show their support.

Meanwhile the company at the centre of the storm, Scotgen, released another newsletter informing the public of the application's progress - it was lodged with South Lanarkshire Council on July 13.

A spokesman said: "Since then, we've been reviewing the comments that the council has received as part their consultation process.

"We've also started preparing the Pollution Prevention Control Permit application."

If planning permission is granted the waste treatment facility could manage up to 160,000 tonnes of residual waste every year.

For more on this story, pick up a copy of this week's Carluke and Lanark Gazette which is in the shops now.