Dozens of people gathered in Clydebank today to try to stop an incineration plant from being built.

As our sister title The Herald reported, plans for a pioneering £20 million facility to turn waste plastic into hydrogen at Rothesay Dock, were approved last month.

Today, dozens of protesters gathered in the rain on Dock Street to voice their disagreement.

People held up signs that read "Clydebank Says No Plastic Inicerator" and "Nicola, Is This Your Legacy?".

They claim there was no consultation before the plans were accepted by West Dunbartonshire Council.

Glasgow Times: Protestors at ClydebankProtestors at Clydebank

Glasgow Times: They stood their ground it the rainThey stood their ground it the rain

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A demonstrator, who stays in Clydebank but preferred to stay anonymous, said: "Without any proper consultation with local residents, it seems like it’s been kept under the radar.

"There is a pleasant walkway alongside the proposed development that is obviously going to be more than unpleasant when this goes ahead.

"We have no answers because we haven’t been allowed to ask the questions that I’m sure many people other than myself, would like responses to.

"Going by the amount of local residents appearing in the pouring rain for a protest, they also would have been more than happy to have a meeting of some sorts to question developers and councillors. 

"It’s just a shame it’s far too late now to put in a proper petition, or to be content with the build having had our answers."

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Glasgow Times: The demonstrators had signsThe demonstrators had signs

Residents have also started an online petition, calling on the council to stop the facility from being built. Currently, it has more than 1,000 signatures.

In it, organiser Kenneth Little, said: "The people of Clydebank are being used as guinea pigs.

"This has to be stopped."

Maureen Laverty, supporter, added: "No doubt, profit over people yet again." 

The plans were lodged by Peel NRE, part of Peel L&P on the north bank of the River Clyde.

The 13,500-tonne facility will use Powerhouse Energy Plc’s pioneering technology to create a local source of sustainable hydrogen from non-recyclable plastics, destined for landfill, incineration or export overseas.

Myles Kitcher, Managing Director at Peel NRE, said: “Society is facing many challenges that need innovative solutions and Scotland is no exception. That includes the need to deal with our problem plastic, as well as cut carbon emissions from transport – which is one of the biggest carbon emitters.

“Our plans, approved by West Dunbartonshire Council, are for a relatively small-scale facility that provides a solution for processing plastics that can’t be recycled. The technology will use this plastic to create a local source of hydrogen – an alternative clean fuel for HGVs, buses and cars. Our studies show that the treatment used would be better and produce less carbon than alternative methods, such as sending the plastic for incineration.

“This plant will be an investment in local energy infrastructure, with a hydrogen refuelling station on site. We consulted local community groups and stakeholders closest to the site before submission and publicised the plans in the local and national press. Both the Scottish and UK Government are on a mission to decarbonise our communities and economies in order to reach Net Zero. If that’s to happen, we need to embrace new ways of how we deal with our waste and how we generate our energy.”

West Dunbartonshire Council has been contacted for comment.