PETERHEAD COUNCILLORS COMMENT ON WASTE PLANT DECISION

SNP councillors in Peterhead South & Cruden have come out against Aberdeenshire Council’s plans not to allow the Buchan Area Committee to reach a decision on the proposal by Buchan CHP to build an ‘energy-from-waste’ plant on the outskirts of Peterhead.

Media reports today indicate that the planning application will go straight to the Full Council in Aberdeen instead of first of all coming before the Area Committee, which meets in Peterhead and is made up of 11 local councillors.

Chairman of the Buchan Area Committee of Aberdeenshire Council Stuart Pratt (SNP-Peterhead South & Cruden) said:

“I have consistently argued that the Buchan Area Committee should get the opportunity to put its views across.

“I don’t have a problem with the issue being debated by the Full Council but the Area Committee must be able to give its views first. I continue to argue for that to happen and I am confident that this will happen in some shape or form.”

Peterhead South & Cruden Ward colleague Stephen Smith added:

“There is an expectation in the local community that the Buchan councillors will debate and discuss this issue locally. Given the importance of this particular planning application that is an entirely sensible demand.

“If I were being asked to vote on an issue affecting Ballater or St Cyrus at a meeting of the Full Council I would want to know what the local councillors for these areas thought about it. It is therefore not unreasonable to expect that councillors from those areas voting on a Peterhead issue should have a clear idea what the local Area Committee thinks of this particular application.

“I fully support my colleague Stuart Pratt’s efforts to ensure that we have a debate on this matter in Peterhead which will be accessible to the public.”