Controversial plans to build a incinerator in Lanarkshire have been thrown out after a long-running battle with campaigners.
Waste management giants Viridor had proposed to build the facility at the Dovesdale site at Overwood Farm, south of Larkhall and Stonehouse.
But in a dramatic U-turn today, the company has withdrawn its interest in developing the site.
It's a huge victory for community campaigners who have been opposing the move since it was announced over a year ago.
The Dovesdale Action Group voiced their concerns over “protecting public health, protecting the farming industry and the environment”.
That was backed by a number of politicians including MSPs Monica Lennon and Christina McKelvie.
Viridor say the decision to throw out the plans was not taken lightly.
A spokesman for the firm told Lanarkshire Live today: “As part of our ongoing investment strategy, Viridor continually assess our emerging proposals to ensure that they are aligned to the needs and demands of both the Scottish and wider UK waste markets.
“Following a review of our development portfolio, a decision has been taken to end our interest in developing an Energy Recovery Facility at Overwood Farm, near Stonehouse in South Lanarkshire.
"This is not a decision that has been taken lightly and follows a detailed evaluation of the project.
“Viridor is a committed participant in the Scottish resources sector having invested over £0.5bn in key recycling and reprocessing infrastructure.
"Our Scottish facilities will play a major role in delivering our ambitions to become a net zero business by 2040 and climate positive by 2045.
"We are continuing to actively explore how our existing and future facilities can help to deliver Scotland’s climate, environmental and circular economy goals.”
Welcoming the news, Central Scotland MSP Monica Lennon said she was "delighted" to receive confirmation from Viridor about the retraction of their plans.
She told us : "This is a huge victory for Dovesdale Action Group and grassroots campaigners, after many years of battling the system.
"People-powered campaigns work, and I commend John Young and everyone in the community who has fought this at every step.
"We now need Scottish ministers to ban incinerators in Scotland. The door currently remains open for planning applications to come forward, so it’s time to close that door on these toxic developments once and for all.”
Also pleased with today's decision, Lanark and Hamilton East MP Angela Crawley said: “I was delighted to hear this morning that Viridor have ended their interest in building an incinerator at Dovesdale.
“Developing an incinerator at this site would not have been beneficial for the local community and it would only hinder in reaching and surpassing the Scottish Government’s climate change targets.
“This is a victory for the local community who has campaigned tirelessly to ensure that this proposal did not go ahead and I would like to thank and congratulate them on their efforts.”
The campaign to stop the incinerator being built received cross-party support from politicians.
Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP Meghan Gallacher added: “The news this morning that Viridor have withdrawn their application for an incinerator in Stonehouse is absolutely fantastic news for everyone who worked collectively for this outcome.
“However, it is The Dovesdale Action Group who deserve the credit. They have never given up campaigning against the unwanted incinerator development at Stonehouse.
“I have met with the group on many occasions and it is obvious that their passion for the local area, tireless opposition, and vigorous campaigning is one of the main reasons that the project has finally been scrapped.
“Hopefully, this will be the last time that we hear about any proposals for an incinerator for Stonehouse.”
And Christina McKelvie MSP also welcomed today's news, saying: “I am delighted to have played a part alongside Mairi McAllan MSP for Clydesdale and Angela Crawley MP for Lanark and Hamilton East in supporting the Dovesdale Action Group and the people of Stonehouse to ensure they will not have an incinerator forced upon them that they neither want nor need.
“John Young and the Dovesdale Action Group should be feeling incredibly proud of themselves having run another successful campaign for the people living in Stonehouse and the surrounding areas, having halted plans for not just one but now two incinerators!
“We now await the results from the Scottish Government Review on Incineration across the country. It is vital we continue to move towards a Scotland that does our bit to limit global emissions, especially moving forward from the commitments made at COP26 hosted in Glasgow."
MSP for Clydesdale Mairi McAllan added: “This is the result of a fabulous community effort from all involved – led by the Dovesdale Action Group, and in particular John Young, who should feel rightly proud of their hard work and campaigning.
“I am glad to have supported the campaign alongside Christina McKelvie MSP and Angela Crawley MP, by making the case to Viridor on behalf our constituents. The community made their voices made loud and clear – and I am so pleased that we have reached a successful outcome.
“As we look forward now to the results of the review into incineration led by the Scottish Government, we will get on with the job of working towards a Net-Zero future for Scotland.”
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