Highland to appeal Invergordon incinerator decision
Highland Council is to appeal a Scottish government planning reporter's decision to approve plans for a £43m waste incinerator in Easter Ross.
There had been a high profile campaign against the Invergordon scheme, with local landowner Mohamed Al Fayed among the objectors.
They claimed pollution from the plant would damage local people's health.
But the government-appointed planning reporter said the evidence did not back up those claims.
Highland councillors agreed on Thursday that the local authority should appeal.
The applicant is Combined Heat and Power (Highlands) Ltd, which plans to incinerate 100,000 tonnes of non-hazardous waste per year.
The proposed waste incinerator - at the Cromarty Firth Industrial Park - had been the subject of lengthy legal wrangles.
It was originally turned down by Highland Councillors amid concern that emissions could cause health problems, and over fears of increased traffic on the already notorious Tomich junction on the A9.
But the company behind the scheme - Combined Heat and Power - appealed against the council's decision, which led to a public inquiry earlier this year.
Planning reporter Richard Dent's decision was published last month.
He said that although public concern was widespread and sincere, it did not warrant the refusal of planning permission.