A SCOTTISH Green MSP is stepping up his, and his party's, efforts to deal a fatal blow to a planned new incinerator in Irvine.

Ross Greer and his colleagues at Holyrood have secured a ban on the building of new incinerators across Scotland since entering a partnership agreement with the SNP two years ago.

But the new facility at Oldhall was given planning permission by North Ayrshire Council in 2019.

However, an operating licence for the Oldhall incinerator has not yet been issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

Mr Greer, who represents the area as a regional MSP for the West Scotland area, and his colleagues in the Scottish Greens are campaigning alongside the Irvine Without Incinerators group, who are urging SEPA not to issue alicence on the grounds of the risk to public health and the impact on the climate.

Now Mr Greer has launched an online portal where members of the public who don't want the plant to go ahead can lodge an objection with SEPA.

Local people can go to www.greens.scot/stop-oldhall-incinerator to lodge their objection directly to SEPA.

The 'energy from waste' facility at the Oldhall West Industrial Estate is owned by Doveryard Ltd and is currently due to open in 2025.

Irvine Times: Irvine Without Incinerators have been protesting the developmentIrvine Without Incinerators have been protesting the development (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Greer said: “New incinerators will now be a thing of the past in Scotland as a result of having Greens in Government.

"They simply aren’t needed, they have a clear negative impact on the climate, and they distract from keeping the focus on reducing waste and increasing recycling.

"‘Energy from Waste’ schemes like Oldhall just encourage more waste.

“It’s disappointing that North Ayrshire Council gave planning permission to Oldhall back in 2019 but we can still stop this incinerator from going ahead by persuading SEPA not to grant an operating licence.

“The proposals are deeply unpopular locally and it’s important that SEPA hear the community’s views"

A spokesperson for developers Doveryard said: "The construction of the facility is well under way, and it is expected to be operational in 2025.

"The project has to meet the highest possible safety standards to operate, and we've been working closely with SEPA throughout the design and construction of the site to ensure it meets these standards.”