A COMMUNITY has come together to rally against plans for a controversial energy-from-waste plant in Glasgow.

It was standing room only as about a hundred local residents turned out for a public meeting to discuss plans for the £154m South Side development.

Residents packed into Mount Florida Primary School for the meeting arranged by Glasgow Alternatives to Incineration group (GAIN).

The aim was to build opposition to the plant, which local residents say they weren't consulted about.

Viridor, the firm behind the proposals, say a 12-week programme of public consultation was launched in May, but GAIN say people didn't receive the 16,000 consultation newsletters Virador claim to have posted to households in the area.

Jane Clarke, 65, a resident from Govanhill, said: "We haven't been told anything. I didn't get a newsletter."

Nick Sims, 53, from Shawlands, said: "There's been no proper consultation, it's the council's duty to consult local residents."

Speakers at the meeting included Glasgow Green MSP Patrick Harvie, public health expert Professor Andrew Watterson from the University of Stirling, and human ecologist Luke Devlin.

As reported in yesterday's Evening Times, the facility, to be built at the site of an existing rubbish depot in Polmadie, will be run by waste giant Viridor under a 25-year-contract with Glasgow City Council.

The plant will process up to 200,000 tonnes of rubbish a year.

It will sort some of the trash for recycling, and organic materials will undergo anaerobic digestion, being turned in to gas in large tanks.

But most unrecyclable rubbish, including the goo left over after digestion, will be gasified in what is described as an 'advanced conversion facility'.

The gas from both processes will fire a combined heat and power plant, which will generate hot water and electricity.

Mr Harvie said there were 'no magic solutions' with waste and energy and any plans would prove controversial.

He said: "People feel they are up against a huge barrier and that's something we need to recognise.It's not just about this one proposal, it's about a whole widespread agenda."

Locals have now vowed to step up their objections with an organised protest and a petition.

Abi Mordin, one of GAIN's organisers, said: "This meeting has been encouraging. If people want to be part of a core campaign group, they can get in touch."

Glasgow City Council and Viridor say they weren't invited to attend the meeting.

Steven Don, Viridor's Scottish regional manager, said the project would save £254m and create 250 jobs.

He said: "In addition to briefings to elected members, community councils and local organisations, Viridor's consultation advertised in three local news- papers and featured five days of community consultation events.

"A further busy online consultation event was backed by ongoing media coverage, a project website and video, dedicated helpline and a newsletters to circa 16,000 residents.

"Viridor continues to welcome the opportunity to talk."

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: "The engagement carried out by Viridor was extensive and heavily publicised.

"An application has now been lodged and people will have the opportunity to get involved through the formal planning process."