Shore Road incinerator appeal to begin

Feb 5 2010 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

THE Shore Road incinerator controversy is set to rumble on.

And Perth and Kinross Council has attracted more flak for “dithering” over sounding the death knell for the vast £100 million waste to energy plant proposed for a site close to the South Inch.

Yesterday, would-be developers Grundon confirmed they had instructed lawyers to prepare an appeal against the council’s development control committee refusal verdict.

A Grundon spokeswoman said: “Given the inconsistency of approach, we believe we’ll get a more balanced reaction if the scheme is objectively considered by suitably qualified specialist technical experts within the disciplined framework of a public inquiry.”

The news has kicked off another heated row, with Bridgend Gannochy and Kinnoull Community Council and former council chief executive Jim Cormie lambasting PKC.

Brian Raine, community council chairman, said: “It was our clear understanding that the development control committee agreed to put an end to the proposal for a waste incinerator at Shore Road by a twin-track approach of refusing the detailed application and by preparing a report for the full council to revoke the outline consent.

“The number of serious mistakes the planning department has made in processing this planning application made any other approach too risky.”

He said a private meeting with senior council officers had indicated revocation was on the cards.

But with reports still being prepared for a full council meeting, Mr Raine expressed dismay at delays.

“January has come and gone without any report being prepared or even a full council date agreed,” he said.

“This is a matter of great concern to us as no-one wanted Grundon to lodge an appeal before a revocation decision had been taken by the council.

“Indeed, we believe that Grundon would abandon their interest in this site if revocation action was confirmed.

“Procrastinating has already provoked Grundon to take a stand and any further delay on the part of the officials would be disastrous.

“Once again we call upon our councillors and the senior management of Perth and Kinross Council to revoke the outline planning consent as a matter of urgency.”

Mr Cormie said he was “appalled but not surprised” at Grundon’s appeal and hit out at alleged “foot-dragging, lack of commitment and general incompetence” among PKC top brass.

“Grundon have only three months to appeal so they cannot be expected to delay any longer,” he contended.

“I have, from the start of this sorry affair, taken the view that it was essential that action to revoke the outline planning consent was taken as speedily as possible, with a view to preempting any appeal.”

Mr Cormie, who has already demanded an inquiry into the council’s handling of the Shore Road controversy, said it was vital that officials took steps to “destroy this dreadful project”.

The Grundon spokeswoman said the company took issue with a range of views expressed by the development control committee.