Invergordon campaign press release - Al Fayed goes to court

(Go to 'Invergordon Incinerator No to Waste' campaign website)

Dear All,
 
I am delighted to finally announce that a Statutory Appeal has been lodged in the Court of Session against the delegated Scottish Reporter’s decision to grant planning permission for a £43 million incinerator in Invergordon.
The appeal has been lodged by Balnagown estate and the owner Mr Al-Fayed.

Following two years of campaigning against the incinerator, the group was extremely disappointed when, despite a unanimous planning permission refusal by Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross Planning Committee, the Reporter granted planning permission. Both the people living in the affected community and local councillorshave fervently opposed the proposal to place the incinerator in Invergordon since it was announced in 2008.

Tina McCaffery, Chairwoman of Invergordon Incinerator No To Waste said: “We are delighted to hear that Balnagown Estates has lodged a Statutory Appeal against the Reporter’s decision. We were very disappointed that the  Reporter decided to write an eight page report rather than undertake a public enquiry. It was an undemocratic decision that goes against the community feeling and we don’t feel that it properly explored the issue and its wider consequences.
 
We have benefited from strong public support in our opposition of the planned incinerator and the Reporter’s decision made us question the grassroots democracy of what happens in and to our community. When we heard that the Reporter had granted permission for the incinerator it did feel like the Scottish Ministers had let this project slip in through the back door.
 
 We are very pleased that this undemocratic decision will be investigated further. We have always felt that Scottish Ministers should intervene and make the decision in a democratic way.”
The Invergordon Incinerator No To Waste group was formed in 2008 and has opposed the incinerator since it was first proposed by Combined Power and Heat (Highlands) Ltd. The group has over 200 active members who have so far been able to raise £2025 in four weeks. This money will be used to continue the campaign against the incinerator.

Tina McCaffery said: “We are really happy that the community has rallied around in the way it has. The level of support has shown the level of opposition this incinerator has. There’s a real feeling of community spirit here in Invergordon and we are all looking forward to continuing to make the area a better place to live. This can only happen if the region is allowed to flourish. We are lucky enough to benefit from tourism in the form of the cruise ships which use our port – we now want to move away from the industrialism of the past onto a brighter future for the area. Invergordon has done its bit – it’s now time to look towards more suitable sites for large industrial plants.
 
We really hope that the Reporter’s decision will be overturned and we can get back to rebuilding Invergordon and ensuring it’s a great place to live and visit.”
For further information please contact Tina  McCaffery on 07845 964463 and IINTW09@aol.com