The Highland Council has welcomed a decision by the Court of Session to send an application for a proposed waste-to-energy plant in Invergordon back to the Reporter.

It is understood that the Court ruled the inquiry has to be re-opened, but only to deal with the issue of what waste will be handled at the facility.

The judges said that a condition, which allows the plant to accept a maximum of 100,000 tonnes of non-hazardous waste from within the Highland Council area, as well as some from outside the region, should be examined by a public inquiry.

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Those behind the plans, Combined Power and Heat (Highlands), has offered to place a restriction on the waste, but judges said those opposed to the project should be able to make a submission to the plans.

Welcoming the Court's decision, Councillor Maxine Smith said: "I am delighted that we have the opportunity to go back to Inquiry to argue that planning permission should be refused. This incinerator is not wanted in Invergordon by the majority of people living here."

Councillor Martin Rattray added: "I think this is a positive outcome and I am sure the community will welcome this as they have worked so hard and fought with such enthusiasm.

"Almost all of the community are firmly against this incinerator coming to Invergordon and it is a credit to their efforts and the work of the council's legal team that the decision today has been made."

(JP/CD)