'Victory for the people' as incinerator plans go up in flames

Published on Thursday 21 January 2010 21:35

PLANS to build one of Scotland's largest incinerators in Peterhead have been rejected by Aberdeenshire Council.

The proposed development had sparked a storm of protest in the town over health fears, and more than 6,000 people – equivalent to a third of Peterhead's population – had signed a petition opposing it.

More than 100 protesters gathered outside the council headquarters at Woodhill House, Aberdeen, as the council debated the application from Buchan Combined Heat and Power (CHP) to build the 50 million waste-to-energy plant on the outskirts of the town.

Members of the local Buchan area committee had voted by six to five last month in favour of the development, despite a recommendation by senior planning officials that it be rejected.

The senior planners argued the site selection process undertaken by CHP had not been robust and fell short of justifying the site at Peterhead as being suitable for the energy-from-waste facility.

Yesterday, following a lengthy debate at the meeting of the full council, councillors voted 49-13 to throw out the application.

John Askey, the resident who launched the campaign against the proposed plant, hailed the council's decision as a "victory for people power".

"We are absolutely delighted with the decision," he said. "The people of Peterhead will be over the moon. The threat of this incinerator has been hanging over the town for almost two years, and it has put a great strain on the people of Peterhead."

Buchan CHP denied claims of a health risk. A spokeswoman said: "We are disappointed that our vision for a clean and green waste-to-energy plant at Upperton Industrial Estate has been rejected by councillors."

She added: "We will take some time to digest the committee's findings before making a decision on any future plans for the development."