Published: Thursday, 28th February, 2008 10:00
Waste issue hits Holyrood
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THE Scottish Parliament was yesterday (Thursday) due to learn of controversial plans for a large waste incinerator, east of Dunbar.
County MSP Iain Gray was to raise the issue of the proposed energy-from-water plant at Oxwellmains at Question Time after being successful in his bid to have the matter highlighted.
The Labour parliamentarian wants clarification on the Scottish Government’s waste strategy.
Speaking ahead of yesterday’s Question Time at Holyrood, he said: “I stand shoulder to shoulder with local residents in continuing to oppose this development, which I don’t believe is in the interests of the local community.
“The recent statement from the Scottish Government on its waste strategy said that that they would block large-scale plants, but did not specify how ‘large-scale’ would be defined.
“However, reports afterwards suggested that only plants with a capacity of up to 100,000 tonnes a year would be approved. So I’ll be asking the Scottish Government to clarify their position.
“Their answer will be of great interest to residents of East Lothian since the proposed waste incineration plant at Oxwellmains would have a capacity of around 450,000 tonnes – which I’m pretty confident is far bigger than the maximum size of plant which the Government is minded to permit.”
Mr Gray has also tabled a series of written questions, asking if the Scottish Government had any evidence for or against alleged links between minute airborne particulates from plants such as that proposed for Oxwellmains and higher incidences of illnesses such as cancer, diabetes and respiratory diseases.
Meanwhile, Viridor – whose controversial application for an incinerator plant at its existing Oxwellmains landfill site was lodged with East Lothian Council last month – has been teaching county kids about the value of recycling.
Last Friday, company duo Steven Don and Clive Barber gave a presentation to pupils of East Linton Primary School.
Viridor was invited to talk to the children after providing part of the funding to help develop the school’s landscaped garden area, which is part of the Eco Schools programme, an international initiative designed to encourage whole-school action for the environment.
“The Scottish Government wants to increase recycling to 40 per cent by 2010, so everyone from primary school children to ourselves as resource managers, has a vital role to play,” said Mr Don, the company’s sales and technical manager for Scotland.
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