A COMMUNITY has waited four years to find out whether a controversial gasification plant will get the green light.

The Scottish Government should have heard an appeal by last January.

But one year on, ministers have still not taken a decision on a planning application from W.H.Malcolm in Scotstoun.

Community Councillor Michael Herrigan said: “We would expect the Scottish Government to be speaking to some of the people affected but there’s been nothing.

“We want the Scottish Government take the responsible decision to step up and say there is no place for this, especially not in a built up urbanised area next to one of the major Scottish rivers, a river where water quality is already a problem.

“But we are seriously concerned that the government will give this planning application a green light and they are just waiting for a bad news day to release the decision and make sure no one notices.”

Four years ago an application by W.H.Malcolm was lodged to build a Gasification Facility on South Street and more than 1000 objections were received.

Locals expressed concerns about the additional traffic and fumes generated by the proposed 230ft high chimney.

Gasification facilities convert household and commercial waste to energy, but they bring with them other environmental concerns such as high levels of CO2 emissions.

They also produce waste that must still be disposed of.

An appeal was lodged to the Scottish Government with a final report containing additional information was provided in October 2017.

With appeals normally taking three months, this meant a decision was expected in January 2018 - but a Government spokesman said the issue was dragging on due to its "complexity".

He said: “Our target for appeal cases is to have a Ministerial decision made within three months of receiving the planning reporter’s report.

“However, there are some cases that take longer due to their complexity.

“In this case, there are a number of outstanding issues that Ministers need to properly and fully consider.

“A decision will be issued as soon as possible.”

Local councillor Eva Murray said: "In February 2016 councillors from across political parties, community councils, school councils, residents associations and local environmental organisations, as well as many constituents, overwhelmingly rejected WH Malcolm’s proposal for a gasification plant to be build on South Street.

"But just eight months later WH Malcolm appealed this decision and it was called in by Scottish Ministers.

"We’re now over two years on and the communities I represent are still very much limbo - the Scottish Government’s target on making a decision on these appeals is three months.

"I can’t quite understand why a decision on this appeal has been put off and delayed by Scottish Ministers.

"Our community rejected this proposal overwhelmingly, the local authority rejected this proposal overwhelmingly.

"What else is there left to consider?

"It’s time that Kevin Stewart MSP - the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning - makes a decision on this appeal and considers the views of the communities I represent.

"It’s been 28 months. They deserve an answer and I’ll be standing alongside them every step of the way until they get one."