Row over Dovesdale plant rumbles on

Jun 16 2011 Hamilton Advertiser

THERE’S been no let-up in the political row over the controversial Dovesdale incinerator proposal.

Clydesdale MSP Aileen Campbell was last week branded “unscrupulous and deceitful” for her stance on the planning application for the waste-to-energy plant, earmarked for greenbelt near Stonehouse.

Ms Campbell, who was earlier this month appointed Minister for Local Government and Planning, submitted a letter of objection to the application in August last year.

However, in her first appearance as a Minister at Holyrood on June 2, she backed the production of ‘green’ energy from waste and refused to answer questions on Dovesdale as the planning procedure is subject of judicial review.

South of Scotland Labour MSP Claudia Beamish promptly went on the political offensive and accused her of trying to “dodge the issue”.

Graham Scott, chairman of South Lanarkshire Council planning committee, who approved the Dovesdale application, described her position over Dovesdale as “deceitful”.

He said the Scottish Government would have to back plants such as the one planned for Dovesdale if they were to hit ambitious targets on waste.

However SNP MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, Christina McKelvie, criticised Labour’s “cynical politicking” over Dovesdale.

She added: "At a time when residents near the proposed incinerator have grave concerns over the impact of the development, concerns about their health and their families’ health, and concerns over contamination of farming land and water supplies, it’s disgusting that these politicians are just trying to score cheap party political points.

“Ministers can’t just call in any planning decision they don’t like and Aileen Campbell wouldn’t be allowed to rule on a planning decision that affected her own constituency.”

“It was Labour councillors who voted through the planning application with help from their Tory and Lib-Dem pals on the planning committee of the council.

“SNP councillors voted against.”

She said she was now working on a number of issues with the Action Group set up to oppose the incinerator.

“I’d encourage any other politician who wants to seriously engage with this issue to get in touch with the action group, listen to what they have to say and lend support where we can,” she added.

“This isn’t a time for petty political bickering, it’s a time to do the job we were elected to do and support the people we were elected to represent.”