Council rejects incinerator plan

The incinerator would have burned non-recyclable waste

Controversial plans for a £43m waste incinerator in Invergordon have been rejected by Highland Council.

Officials had recommended the Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross planning applications committee give it the go-ahead.

Combined Power and Heat (Highlands) Ltd said it was disappointed and would decide whether to appeal.

Campaign group Invergordon Incinerator - No to Waste were concerned about possible toxic emissions.

They claimed the area could become a waste dump if the plans went ahead.

About 100 people staged a demonstration in the town as councillors arrived to consider the plan for part of a former aluminium smelter.

Combined Power and Heat had said 100,000 tonnes of non-hazardous waste from the Highlands would have been burned every year, generating enough heat and electricity for 10,000 properties.

At the moment the waste is transported to landfill sites in Aberdeenshire and Perthshire.