Former Rangers player walks out of Larkhall meeting over incinerator row

Sep 2 2010 by Gary Fanning, Hamilton Advertiser

LARKHALL Community Council chairman Ally Dawson sensationally walked out of last week’s meeting – after a furious row over plans for a £50m waste incinerator.

The former Rangers player halted the stormy meeting following angry clashes between community councillors and Dovesdale Action Group protestors.

At last Monday’s meeting, held in Glengowan Primary School, community councillors were expected to decide whether they were going to officially object to the proposals for the controversial toxic waste plant at Dovesdale Farm, Carlisle Road, near Stonehouse.

Campaigners were furious the community council had waited until after the official closing date to submit their objections, apparently unaware the community council had received an extension to the deadline to give them enough time to debate the issue at their August meeting.

Protestors were stunned the community council needed extra time as over 20,000 people had objected to the facility, including SEPA.

The meeting came to an abrupt ending after Sheena Campbell, secretary of the community council, and Dovesdale Action group protestor Philip Brunton clashed over an incident which had occurred in July outside Larkhall Police Station.

Representatives of the community council, the town’s four councillors, Scotgen and others were invited to a private meeting at the police station the evening after the community council’s July meeting.

Mr Brunton was sitting in his car outside the police station and was approached by a community councillor who accused him of taking pictures on his mobile phone of people going in and out of the meeting.

Philip Brunton told the community council meeting: “I didn’t approach anyone from the community council.

“I was sitting outside (the police station) and approached by a community councillor and accused of something I wasn't doing. I would like an apology from this man.”

Sheena Campbell said the community council didn’t organise the meeting with Scotgen. She continued: “I announced at our last meeting (in July) that the next night we were attending a meeting which was called by Jackie Burns and four councillors and invited guests, including Netherburn and Ashgill Community Council, to meet with Scotgen because of the protest group’s actions.

“Scotgen refused to come along to a community council meeting because of the action group. The meeting wasn't in secret.

“That's why you (Philip Brunton) were sitting outside taking photographs on your phone.”

Philip Brunton stormed: “Did you accuse of me of taking photographs?”

Sheena Campbell replied: “Did you take photographs?”

Mr Brunton then went on to say: “Are you accusing me?”

Sheena Campbell persisted: “Did you take photographs?”

Philip Brunton added: “Are you accusing me?”

Sheena Campbell added: “Did you take photographs?”

Chairman Ally Dawson intervened and concluded: “If this is going to continue, I am just going to close the meeting.”

Philip Brunton later referred back to the meeting at the police station. “Police came to my house at 8pm and asked for my mobile phone,” he said. “The community council sent police to my door.”

Sheena Campbell replied: “I will give you my daughter’s card. She happens to be a solicitor.

“You will be getting a lawyer's letter in the morning, pal.”

Ally Dawson then said: “This meeting's closed. I am out of here.”

Sheena Campbell said: “Me too.”

The meeting ended and both walked away from the table to ironic claps from the protestors who shouted: “That’s the easy way out.”

And the members of the public who had attended the meeting left without knowing if the community council would object to the planning application for the plant.