LOBBY group Irvine Without Incinerators are stepping up their opposition to a waste plant being built at the town’s Oldhall West industrial estate, following a recent meeting with management from the site.

And they are urging green watchdog the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to refuse the plant permission to operate.

Group member Arthur West said that the meeting, which lasted more than two hours,  comprised a lively question and answer session during which the campaigners raised a number of concerns about the public health and environmental consequences which could result from the plant being located in Irvine.

The proposed plantThe proposed plant (Image: NQ) He said: “The meeting resulted in a clear exchange of views and information – and we acknowledge that the company representatives at the meeting did their best to answer our questions.

“However, we remain of the view that the development of this plant should be halted  – and it should not be given an operating permit by SEPA.”

Mr West said that the group will now be focusing on getting SEPA to refuse an operating permit to the facility.

The campaign spokesman added: “Our group is aware that the Scottish Government has imposed a moratorium on new waste incineration plants being developed, however, the Irvine plant got through the council’s planning committee in 2020 prior to the pandemic and escaped being covered by this decision.”

The next meeting of the campaign group will be in Irvine Library in early October and they will draw up a plan of action to pressurise the Scottish Government and SEPA to stop the waste incineration facility coming into operation.

Mr West added: “Our group are aware that information from respected organisations such as Friends of the Earth Scotland suggests that waste incineration plants should be opposed on environmental and health grounds – and that is what our group will continue to do."

(Image: NQ) A SEPA spokesperson said: “SEPA are nearing the end of the determination process during which we assess the information in the application.

“This covers a wide variety of aspects, including the impact due to emissions from the facility.

“Our draft decision, including any draft permit or draft refusal notice, will be published on our consultation hub to allow for a further period of public consultation.”