Irvine campaign group's boost as MSP Ross Greer backs incinerator fight

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Campaigners battling to stop the controversial Oldhall West incinerator have secured a massive boost from a Holyrood politician.Green MSP Ross Greer has lodged a motion in parliament in support of a group saying it’s not too late to reject the plant, which is currently under construction in Irvine.And Irvine Without Incinerators is appreciative of the backing as it aims to ensure the facility is not given an operating licence by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA).Last year, Scottish Greens co-leader and Scottish Government minister for biodiversity, Lorna Slater, announced a moratorium on new incinerators, but planning permission had already been granted for the Irvine structure.However, with building work in the early stages, Irvine Without Incinerators has continued the fight in the hope of either persuading the developers Doveryard Ltd (owned by Octopus Renewables) to change course, or to prevent the completion of the licensing process.Local residents are lobbying both Octopus and SEPA.

West Scotland MSP, Mr Greer, said: “This incinerator is only going forward due to a quirk in timing."If it had been just a few months later, once the Scottish Greens entered government and imposed a moratorium, it would not have gone ahead and for good reason.“Incinerators cause harmful pollution and are simply unnecessary in Scotland, which is why we have put a stop to any more being built."Irvine Without Incinerators have estimated the operation of this incinerator would mean 34 additional lorries of waste coming into North Ayrshire each day, from as far afield as Bedfordshire.“It’s anything but renewable energy and I encourage any readers who are Octopus customers to tell the company to stop spinning that particular