Perth councillor Peter Barrett ups the ante in opposition to waste incinerator
A Perth councillor has urged residents not to be put off demonstrating their opposition to revised plans for a £100 million waste incinerator that has been dubbed a "pollutant-belching monstrosity."
- By Paul Reoch
- Published in the Courier : 09.07.11
- Published online : 09.07.11 @ 02.40pm
Grundon Waste Management recently lodged revamped plans it hopes will meet the criteria required by Perth and Kinross Council.
The Oxfordshire company previously had its reserved matters application for an "energy to waste facility" on Shore Road, Perth, refused by the local authority and a subsequent appeal rejected by the Scottish Government in November.
The revised plans submitted by Grundon include reducing the main chimney stack from 80 metres to 34 metres and use of an advanced gas process.
The council originally granted planning permission for the incinerator with an 80-metre chimney in 2006. However, it became evident that this had been granted without the knowledge of senior management or councillors.
To rescind this decision would have cost the council hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Grundon's previous proposal was slated by some residents and even drew criticism from Perth Prison.
Perth and North Perthshire MP Pete Wishart condemned the proposal, describing it as "a pollutant-belching monstrosity," while long-term opponent Perth City Centre councillor Peter Barrett has warned residents not to be put off from demonstrating their opposition to the latest plans for the Shore Road incinerator.
He is urging people to stand up for the town, for what they believe, and to reject the prophecies of the "doom and gloom merchants."
Doorstepping
Mr Barrett has been doorstepping his Stop the Incinerator campaign and he is pleased with the response he has had.
"In the last two weeks with the help of some fantastic volunteers we have delivered 6000 Stop the Incinerator leaflets to households in Perth city centre," he said.
"We have gone street to street from North Muirton to the South Inch and almost everyone we see wants the fight against the incinerator intensified."
"I've only got 500 leaflets left and we'll have them out by tomorrow, but there will still be plenty to do in the campaign after that and all offers of support will be gladly taken up and received.
"I don't think our postie quite knows what has hit him as more and more petition replies pour in day after day.
"The response from local people has been tremendous. I am really grateful for all the support and backing that is coming from the community.
"Offers to help deliver the leaflets and collect signatures for the petition have flooded in. We have got so much to do and just over two weeks to do it in."
The urgency of the situation is due to the end to the public consultation period, which is rapidly approaching. People need to be aware that the deadline is July 22 and objections need to be in by then," Mr Barrett said.
"I want to be able to submit a massive petition which truly demonstrates the weight of public opposition to the incinerator at the same time."
Grundon has said the waste incinerator will generate 11MWh of steam and hot water for direct export to nearby buildings and 16MW of electrical power which it will sell to the National Grid and which would be able to power around 28,000 households.
For more information on the petition and planning grounds for objection email Mr Barrett at pabarrett@pkc.gov.uk or phone him on 01738 475090 or 01738 571527.
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