Cumnock politicians have clashed over who said what, regarding plans for the waste incinerator at Killoch.

SNP politicians were unhappy with comments from Conservative MSP Sharon Dowey.

In a question to the Deputy First Minister last week, Mrs Dowey asked the Deputy First Minister a question on the recently published independent report on incineration, “Stop, Sort, Burn, Bury” in which she claimed the “the local SNP have been embarrassingly silent” on the issue of the proposed “energy-from-waste facility” (EFW) proposal for Killoch.

But Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley MSP Elena Whitham said: “There has been strong opposition locally from groups, community councils and from my councillor colleagues and myself.

“I’ve met with both the local campaign group and NFU members and heard first hand the concerns that they have for the environment.

“Unfortunately I cannot find an objection from Mrs Dowey among the many 1000s of letters submitted to East Ayrshire Council.

“Perhaps Mrs Dowey should engage with the local groups who I and other politicians, both SNP and Labour, have worked closely with from the very beginning.”

Responding, Ms Dowey claims that Ms Whitham has never raised the issue in Parliament.

She said : “I think it’s fair enough to say the SNP have gone quiet on this issue, Elena Whitham hasn’t mentioned incinerators once in the Scottish Parliament since she was elected.

“Sure, she wrote a letter of objection last year but we’ve not heard much since. I’d really be expecting to see more leadership on this issue from a local representative.

“The Scottish Conservatives have been consistent – there should be no new incinerators in Scotland.

“Elena Whitham should join me in pushing for all out ban on new incinerators, even if it means ruffling a few feathers with her party bosses.”

Turn to P7 for the latest report from the protestors and Barr Environmental.