After an hour-and-a-half debate, councillors refused – by just one vote – the application by the council itself, which would have seen waste from all over Ross-shire handled, stored and bulked up at the council's unit on the Cromarty Firth Industrial Park in Invergordon.

Currently the site only handles recyclable material and angry local residents protested that they did not want Invergordon used as a dumping ground for the whole of Ross-shire.

The application was originally refused by the local planning committee in May on grounds of amenity and road safety, concerns having been expressed about the Tomich junction on the A9.

However a group of councillors subsequently signed a Notice of Amendment to have the decision overturned, which was the subject of yesterday's debate.

Local campaigners saw councillors' attempt to reverse the decision as a ploy to make it easier, on roads grounds, to approve an application for a much more controversial incinerator project in Invergordon which is due to be debated next week. Incinerator traffic will also use the Tomich junction.

At yesterday's meeting Cromarty Firth Councillor Maxine Smith's motion to uphold the original decision and refuse the waste transfer station expansion won the day following a 10-9 vote.

Highland councillors (from left) Mike Finlayson, Martin Rattray and Maxine Smith and protesters with the petition against the proposed waste transfer station ahead of yesterday's meeting. Gary Anthony

Campaigners who had earlier handed over a petition to councillors and had listened to the debate were victorious.

But the meeting heard the decision could have far reaching implications for development in Invergordon.

Local councillor Carolyn Wilson said refusal of the application on grounds of a hazardous Tomich junction sent out a message to all developers that Invergordon was closed to new business, including to supermarket operators which the town has been striving to attract.

Transport Scotland, the trunk roads agency, said it had no concerns about the Tomich junction.

editor@north-star-news.co.uk

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