Incinerator victory for the people of Peterhead

In the words of The Scotsman ‘Victory for the people’ as incinerator plans go up in flames:

Plans to build one of Scotland’s largest incinerators (100,000 tonnes per annum) 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.

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.

On 21st January 2010, following a lengthy debate, councillors voted 49-13 to reject the incinerator application.

John Askey, the resident who launched the campaign against the proposed plant, is quoted as saying:

We are absolutely delighted with the decision. 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.

LetsRecycle reports how Aberdeenshire council’s planning and environment services said Buchan’s incinerator application did not comply with the necessary planning policies.