Firm dumps waste plan for Barrhead

Published 23 Jan 2012 09:30

THE firm behind a plan to build "the biggest waste incinerator in Western Europe" in East Ren has dumped its plan to open a Barrhead satellite plant for the venture.

Lifetime Recycling Village aims to create a huge recycling plant at Loganswell, near Newton Mearns, and has sparked a major local campaign of opposition backed by politicians including MP Jim Murphy.

Last year he led a 2,000-strong march and rally against the scheme, amid claims the plant would destroy the area's quality of life, drive down house prices and clog local roads with heavy traffic.

And along with Barrhead's MSP Hugh Henry he signalled his opposition to the firm's bid - disclosed in the Barrhead News - to open a satellite venture in the town.

The company's managing director, Neil Gallacher, last year confirmed his team were scouting suitable sites for what would be an overspill plant for the Mearns plant.

And last week Mr Murphy announced he aimed to stage a public meeting in Barrhead, to which the company's representatives would be invited, while reaffirming his opposition to the plan.

He is backed by Mr Henry, who says he's seen first hand the "misery" industrial recycling incinerators can bring from one that's already up and running in Renfrewshire.

But LRV's Mr Gallacher has now told the Barrhead News that while his firm would "probably" have sent representatives to the public meeting, which had been planned for February 5, the original bid to open a plant in Barrhead has been ditched.

"We are looking at other areas of Scotland where such a development might be suitable," he said.

"We had been looking at potential sites in Barrhead, but we won't now be proceeding with that element of the plan."

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This article appeared in Barrhead News 18 Jan 12

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