CONTROVERSIAL plans for a major high-rise 'energy-from-waste' plant in Glasgow have sparked major opposition, with almost 1000 objections against the scheme.

Politicians from across the spectrum, heritage and community groups are among the 950 objections to the plant in Glasgow's west end ahead of its recommended approval by the city council.

The scheme has been billed as an 'energy recovery facility', essentially recycling waste destined for landfill sites to generate power and heat and would be built on an existing facility at South Street in Scotstoun.

The proposed 230ft chimney would be the second highest structure in the surrounding area, with the Glasgow Tower at the Science Centre over two miles away the being the only taller building.

The height is required after analysis showed a stack of 165ft would "not give adequate dispersion of emissions to air".

Among the list of objections are allegations the plant, branded an incinerator by opponents, has the potential to cause air pollution and spread odour and dust over the surrounding area as well as fears over an adverse impact on the health of local population.

The plant's owners, transport and construction firm WH Malcolm, has also been accused of running an unsuccessful consultation exercise and failing to provide sufficient information regarding the process involved within the proposed facility.

An adverse impact on property values, increase in traffic using surrounding streets to access facility, and proximity to residential areas, schools, community facilities have also been cited.

But the application for the plant, due to be decided next week, claims it would enable a reduction in the amount of waste sent to landfill, while the operator would also remain its current licence of managing half a million tonnes of waste a year.

Scotland’s zero waste targets include recycling 70 per cent of household waste and sending no more than five per cent to landfill by 2025.

It also claims the location was in close proximity to potential users of the heat and power generated by the plant, "meeting with sustainable requirements".

Crucially it has meet with no objection from the national environmental protection agency SEPA, which was involved in pre-application discussions.

But local MSP, the SNP's Bill Kidd, said people continued to have "legitimate concerns and can't just be told that this is for their own good".

He added: "The issue of the release of particulates into the air hasn't been properly addressed. The chimney isn't just there for show and heavy rains can wash stuff out of the air. It's quite a serious prospect.

"Yes there is a necessity to reduce landfill but whilst genuine concerns persist it isn't good enough to run a consultation on the basis of 'you come to us'."

Labour councillor Aileen Colleran said the project had a ring of a "development at any cost agenda".

She added: "We've had poor masterplanning on the north bank of the Clyde and any application that comes along is accepted regardless of the impact on residential areas and the environment. Local councillor and community views are ignored on a regular basis."

WH Malcolm previously said the proposed plant would be similar way to the facility at Polmadie handling domestic waste for Glasgow City Council, would not generate odours or major traffic increases, while the chimney would be "in keeping with the character of the industrial backdrop of this part of the Clydeside".

A spokesman for the firm said: “We are aware of the recommendations of council officers and we now await the decision by members of the planning committee.”