Jim Hume, Liberal Democrat MSP for the South of Scotland, has echoed calls from local campaigners and parliamentarians to have the controversial Dovesdale incinerator proposal called in by Scottish Ministers following the recent decision by South Lanarkshire Council’s planning committee to approve the Scotgen bid.

In a letter to Finance Secretary, John Swinney, the MSP highlighted the widespread opposition including from cross party politicians.

Mr Hume said:

“There has been and continues to be massive public opposition to the idea of siting an industrial incinerator in the middle of green belt land. This is about adhering to planning policy and clearly for whatever reason, council officials ignored greenbelt and countryside policies by recommending the application or approval.

“Such an important and controversial decision was left to the local planning committee and not brought before all of South Lanarkshire’s local elected representatives, which is perhaps what should have happened to allow a full discussion.

“This is unfortunately a case of local decision making gone wrong.

“There is no third party right of appeal in the planning system and by calling this proposal in, there will at least be the chance for independent scrutiny”.