RESIDENTS in the west of Glasgow are calling for a decision to be made on controversial plans to build a waste energy plant.

Plans to build the plant with a 230ft chimney in Scotstoun were put to the Scottish Government after Glasgow City Council's planning application committee rejected the proposal following almost 1,000 objections.

WH Malcolm, the company behind the plan, appealed the decision and the case was taken to the Scottish Government.

The case has been with Holyrood ministers since January and now members of the Scotstoun Community Council and Whiteinch Community Council have called for a decision to come sooner rather than later.

At a Scotstoun CC meeting one member raised the issue and said: “We have not heard about a decision yet, which is quite concerning.

“We have had some correspondence from MSPs but since the report on this was handed to ministers in January we have not heard a thing.

“I can’t help but feel, regarding this, no news is bad news for residents.”

In a letter addressed to the community councils from the appeal’s case worker, it was said that it is the ministers’ intention to issue decisions within two months of receiving the report in the majority of cases – three months at the most.

The member of the community group added: “The time we were told a decision would be made has elapsed. A time and a date is needed. It would be good to receive some further correspondence before the council elections – but that may be asking for a bit too much.”

Now, both community councils have sent letters to Bill Kidd MSP asking when it is likely a decision will be made known to them.

Gillian Morgan of Whiteinch Community Council confirmed their group had also sent a letter to the MSP.

Back in 2016, WH Malcolm applied to develop a waste disposal plant at its existing depot in South Street at the beginning of last year.

The new plant would have turned waste into energy.

It would have used a method called gasification, which involves treating waste in temperatures up to 1,400C to produce a gas.

But the move resulted in almost 1,000 objections from a range of individuals and organisations including Bill Kidd MSP, city councillors, six community councils, Friends of Victoria Park, residents’ associations, school councils and Friends of the Earth.

They were worried about an increase in the number of lorries visiting the site and the potential health risk of fumes and toxins sprayed out from the chimney.

The Scottish Government’s planing and environmental appeals division has been dealing with the case since June 22, 2016 with the latest action taken on January 27 this year.