By Richard Burdge

A PLANNING stand-off occurred yesterday as campaigners battling to stop a giant waste incinerator being built in Perth claimed that their petition had been snubbed by the council—an allegation hotly denied by the local authority.

Children accompanied by members of Bridgend, Gannochy and Kinnoull Community Council carried boxes of the 3200-signature Revoke the Smoke petition into Pullar House council buildings, only to find no one available to receive it.

Chief executive Bernadette Malone had already indicated she felt she could not accept the petition—a decision which infuriated the campaigners—but they had believed that someone would step in to take the signatures.

Once the children had left for school, Environmental Services depute director Jim Valentine arrived to receive the signatures on behalf of the council.

However, the campaigners felt aggrieved at the delay.

A council spokesman, keen to clarify their take on the lack of welcome for the campaigners, said, “After requesting to hand the petition to the council’s chief executive, the community council was advised to instead hand it in to staff at Pullar House reception, which is the normal process in such matters.

“A large group attended without prior warning this morning along with several children and members of the media, demanding to meet head of planning Roland Bean.

“No appointment had been made with Roland Bean, who was unavailable to meet them at that time.

“Despite the unusual actions of the community council in handing in this petition... Jim Valentine, the most senior council officer in the building at that time, accepted the petition from them on behalf of the council as soon as he became available.”

Furious that outline planning consent has already been granted for a £100 million plant on Shore Road, the group have called for that consent to be revoked when the council hold a special meeting on the issue in the Dewar’s Centre on Tuesday.

They hope the public will turn out in force to make their feelings known.

A spokesman for Bridgend, Gannochy and Kinnoull Community Council said, “The town really has pulled together on this crucial issue, but there must be no let-up on the pressure on the council to revoke the incinerator’s outline consent.”

Among those helping deliver the boxes yesterday was Andy Rathborne, head of Craigclowan School, which is not far from the proposed site.

“We are here to safeguard the health and future of the children,” he said.

“Along with many people in Perth, we do not want to see this go ahead.”

In light of a late letter of objection from the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency objecting to the development on various grounds, a supplementary report has been issued by head of planning Roland Bean for the guidance of councillors when they debate the contentious issue next week.

While accepting the reasons for SEPA’s objections are valid— non-compliance with waste guidelines, site selection and technical matters associated with the size of the site—Mr Bean said this would strengthen reasons for refusal, rather than going down the route of revocation of the existing outline consent.

This has angered objectors who insist the only way to stop the plan totally is to go for the latter action, as they fear the council could leave itself open to a successful appeal against refusal by the applicant, Grundon.