Protestors handed in hundreds of objections against the proposed Killoch waste incinerator recently.

Barr Environmental are planning to build a waste-to-energy facility near Ochiltree, but the plans have come under fire from local residents and politicians.

The Say No to an Incinerator at Barr /Killoch Group say it will bring thousands of tonnes of rubbish to Ayrshire every month with more pollution and traffic chaos.

A planning application is under review by East Ayrshire planning chiefs.

The protest headed to council headquarters in Kilmarnock on Friday, May 13 to let the strength of their feelings be known.

Speaking to the Chronicle, a spokesperson from the group said: “We have officially handed in 689 signed objections to the Killoch incinerator this morning to East Ayrshire Council headquarters.

“These objection letters are signed by the community to show their strength of feeling and their reasons for being against the proposed incinerator.

“We would like to thank everyone for their help in supporting the Say No campaign to this point and we will continue on our campaigning against incineration.

“We have also received confirmation that the public consultation on this application will be extended until Sunday, June 12. This 28-day extension allowed the public to continue to make comment to the planning application on East Ayrshire council planning website.”

The Chronicle reported last week how a Government-commissioned report on waste incineration said that no more incinerators should be approved.

“We also hope that the Scottish Government will take on board and implement all of the independent reviews recommendations by Dr Colin Church on incineration,” added the spokesperson.

In response, Gavin Ramsey, spokesperson for Barr Environmental, said: “We welcome all debate on our application as part of what we know will continue to be a robust and fair planning process.

“Our position remains that our site at Killoch has already been established as a suitable location for an energy from waste facility, due to our existing planning consent.

“The facility we’re now proposing would not only meet East Ayrshire’s current and future residual waste management needs but it will also be critical in meeting the Government’s statutory landfill diversion targets for 2025.

“Importantly, our facility would also establish a new source of secure, domestic energy generation for Scotland.”

Labour MSP for South Scotland Carol Mochan said: “In terms of the proposed incinerator at Ochiltree – that plan should be dead in the water.

“I have opposed it from the beginning but more importantly, so have the residents in and around the site.

“So I say to the council that the community is against it, independent experts think further developments are foolish, and the Government seem to be moving away from incineration altogether.

“Stop the plans and let’s find an alternative that does not lead to so many objections from hard working people who don’t want rubbish burned on their doorstep.”

Commenting on the proposals, Conservative MSP Sharon Dowey said: “Hundreds of people in East Ayrshire have objected to these plans and now the Scottish Government’s own experts say these unpopular plans should be scrapped.

“It’s time for the SNP and Greens to take these concerns seriously and cancel this new incinerator for good.”