GREEN MSP Mark Ruskell has raised the Westfield masterplan at Holyrood during a debate on incinerators and planning policy, warning that there could be a rush of new incinerators if Ministers do not tighten up waste regulations.

Last year Fife Council approved a masterplan for the former open cast coal mine between Ballingry and Kinglassie which included a 20 megawatt energy-from-waste facility, which would see waste from homes across Fife being burned for energy.

Mr Ruskell has said not all local residents were fully aware of the incinerator plan, as the developers focused on renewable energy generation and public access works when presenting the plans.

Speaking after the debate, Green MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Mr Ruskell, said: “We heard from MSPs from across the country who represent communities fighting plans for new incinerators. So much of it resonated with the situation at Westfield – residents feeling like they have not been adequately consulted, their concerns have not been listened to, and a planning system which is not geared up to deal with this new shift towards burning household rubbish".

He added: "The masterplan at Westfield contains great potential, outlining how the site could be used for renewable energy facilities and turned into a local natural amenity.

"However, I have real concerns about how decisions over where and how many incinerators to build are being made, and I’m not convinced planning policy has this issue under control. Decisions are being led by private developers and not a coherent plan from Government.

"Earlier this month I met with the Energy Minister and the Environment Secretary to raise my concerns, and they’ve promised to look at producing a better assessment of what Scotland’s incineration needs will be once new bans on sending waste to landfill come in in 2021.

"I hope this will result in clearer guidelines being put in place before any final decision is made about including an incinerator in the Westfield redevelopment.”