Dovesdale Incinerator campaign heats up

Paul McGillivray believes those living in the Clyde Valley and Clydesdale as a whole will suffer if planning permission is granted for the facility, planned by Scotgen.

The firm has submitted a planning application and if permission is granted, the centre, off Carlisle Road at Dovesdale Farm, could manage up to 160,000 tonnes of residual waste.

Paul said: "The Clyde Valley is a major tourist attraction — to have this on our door-step would be horrendous. We must lobby MPs, MSPs and councillors."

In its June newsletter Scotgen stated that only small proportions of residual waste would be accepted for energy recovery at the facility that could be classed as hazardous.

It stated that the gasification process, which would recycle the waste, was safe, highly efficient and created relatively low emissions, adding that it had been classified by SEPA as a renewable energy source and has a low carbon status.

A Scotgen spokesman told the Gazette: "We have sent out our third newsletter and our website has a lot of information on it, as well as answering any questions the public may have."

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