Protest group spokesman speaks against Dovesdale incinerator plant

Dec 2 2010 Stewart Weir

IT was a lovely summer evening back in May when, like a great many people in Stonehouse, I joined an open-air gathering in the village’s public park to find out more about what I’d first read about, not in the local press, or in a crafted door-delivered newsletter, but on the side of an articulated unit parked at Canderside Toll.

I went there to find out more, not so much a show of support against the proposed incinerator. Safe to say, had it been a wet night, I wouldn’t be putting pen to paper now.

What came across loud and clear was that this planned incinerator was not welcomed. People didn’t know all the technical detail but were fearful. They didn’t know the percentages of illnesses in areas where incinerators were located, but people believed their basic entitlements, namely that key information, was being denied them.

As a one-time shop steward and former journalist, I think I’m reasonable when listening to both sides of an argument. But all along, there really has only been one side voicing its opposition or views,

The local perception is that their concerns are constantly being dismissed.

Scotgen had ticked the proper boxes, although it has come as a shock to many at just how few boxes need ticking to fulfil their obligations to the community.

But between them, and it must be said local politicians, there is an unerring mistrust. Why?

Because the vast majority of their dealings have been seen to be suspicious, underhand, sneaky, and in our language, sleekit.

Scotgen’s first engagement with the locals took place months ago, although it was missed by some because their invites arrived four days after the meeting.

They said they informed people through online newsletters. Except folk were not told that, and many don’t have computer access in the first place.

The mistrust grew as Scotgen would not meet anyone, other than handpicked individuals decreed a special audience.

So you had the bizarre sight of local community councillors (who for a great many seem more interested in losing a bowling green than the dangers of a major incineration plant overshadowing them) having a meeting with Scotgen and starry-eyed councillors in a police station.

Planning consent for other facilities in this area appears to have bypassed those who should have had a say. And even irregularities in the details (i.e. what council ward Dovesdale belongs to) are just shrugged off by South Lanarkshire officials as an administrative error. But then, so was £100,000 that found its way into the hands of African conmen.

Above all else, Scotgen can sit and do and say nothing, despite the wave of public objections. They even refused the chance to comment here. Why? Because it is impossible for them to put a positive spin on anything they have done this far.

Scotgen’s plant in Dumfries still doesn’t work. Not only does it not operate properly, the number of breaches around SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) guidelines now runs into the hundreds.

It is an award-winning facility for the worst reasons, making the top 20 of Scotland’s worst polluters.

Yet there are still people who believe there is nothing to fear or worry about concerning Dovesdale. One really has to wonder what is convincing them otherwise. Except no-one is willing to come forward and say.

Scotgen declined the Advertiser’s invitation to outline, at similar length to the above, the advantages of the proposed plant.