SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford has urged councillors from across Aberdeenshire to vote against controversial plans for an incinerator on the outskirts of Peterhead.
Councillors will vote on the plans at a meeting of Aberdeenshire Council to be held on Thursday in Woodhill House, Aberdeen. Last month saw the Buchan Area Committee of the council split almost down the middle when it narrowly backed the proposal by 6 votes to 5.
Commenting, Eilidh Whiteford said:
"This is not the right development for this site. I hope that when councillors from across Aberdeenshire weigh up their decision, they will listen to the Council's own planning officials who have recommended that it be refused.
"One of my chief concerns is that an incinerator on this site will deter other business investment from the area, and undermine the Council's current efforts to encourage clean, green renewable energy-related industries to set up here as part of the new Energetica corridor.
"My other major concern is that those proposing this development have singularly failed to allay the fears of people living locally that it will have a detrimental effect on their quality of life. In these circumstances, the people of Peterhead should not have this development forced upon them."
68 councillors are eligible to vote on Thursday, including the 11 members of the Buchan Area Committee who have already expressed their view at their own Committee Meeting.