A government minister missed an opportunity to block controversial plans for an incinerator, it has been claimed.

South Lanarkshire Council rejected an application for a waste processing plant in Hamilton but a Scottish Government reporter overturned the decision in August.

Householders are angry that it could now be built metres from their homes and several senior SNP politicians have backed their campaign against it, including Hamilton West MP Margaret Ferrier and Central Scotland list MSP Richard Lyle.

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners' Rights, Alex Neil, who has responsibility for community planning, has until recently turned down the chance to meet with residents from Hamilton Energy Recovery Action Group (HERAG) who have long urged him to intervene.

In a letter to local Labour councillor Monica Lennon, a member of the campaign group, the Airdrie and Shotts MSP said he could not discuss the plans “whilst the period in which a legal challenge to the decision is still live”.

He also insisted he had “no specific knowledge of this proposal at any stage during the planning process”.

But a briefing note sent to Mr Neil by the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) shows that the minister was fully informed before the reporter’s decision was announced to the public.

The document, obtained by Ms Lennon, goes into detail about the plans and states that there was “significant local representations” which included 535 letters.

The planning minister can step in and overrule a Scottish Government reporter and Ms Lennon, who was a council planner before she was elected to the Hamilton North and East ward, said Mr Neil should have used his powers of recall.

She said: “We now know the cabinet secretary was fully briefed of the proposed incinerator in Hamilton.

“Alex Neil had the opportunity to side with the community and use the powers at his disposal to back the council's refusal of the plans.

“My constituents feel misled about his role and are demanding that Alex Neil stops hiding behind messengers and explains at the next community meeting why he is allowing the incinerator to proceed.

“Even his own MSPs and MPs are calling for a legal challenge of the decision.”

Chairman of Hamilton Energy Recovery Action Group, Phil Sykes, also accused Mr Neil of letting down residents.

He said: “From what I’ve seen it certainly suggests that there was an opportunity before the reporter made his final decision for the minister to look at this matter. If this is the case I am massively disappointed.”

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “As is usual practice with appeal decisions where wider interest is anticipated, Scottish Ministers were advised of the decision shortly before publication.

“The (briefing) note of August 12 informed ministers of the reporter’s decision and that the appeal process was complete. It did not provide ministers with an opportunity to exercise the power of recall.”