Business tycoon Mohamed Al Fayed last night welcomed the start of a court hearing into his battle against a proposed incinerator near his Highland castle home.
And he said he hoped the outcome of the case in Scotland’s supreme civil court would be “a victory for democracy”.
The hearing in the Inner House of the Court of Session into appeals by Mr Al Fayed and Highland Council against the granting of planning permission for a waste to energy plant at Invergordon began yesterday.
It is expected to run until the end of this week, with a written judgment issued at a later date.
Last year, the Scottish Government approved the application by Combined Power and Heat (Highlands) for the £43million incinerator, despite opposition from local residents and Ross Estates Company, owned by the former Harrods boss.
Highland Council and Ross Estates appealed the decision in an attempt to force a U-turn on the scheme, which many believe could damage the health of local people and affect tourism, and their appeals are being heard together.
Mr Al Fayed’s spokesman last night said: “Mr Al Fayed is very happy that the appeal has begun and that the arguments are being strongly put.
“He believes it to be a very important appeal for the whole of the Highland region and, in particular to the area of the Moray Firth.”
The spokesman added that Mr Al Fayed considered it vital that the appeals should succeed.
He said: “The Highland Council turned down this plan. It is the democratically elected representative of all the people in Highland region and the people of Invergordon. They have spoken and they don’t want this incinerator.
“If democracy is to have any meaning in modern Scotland then they should be listened to by the Scottish Government.
“Mr Al Fayed is looking for an outcome that would be a victory for democracy.”
The multimillionaire stays at Balnagown Castle on his estate close to Invergordon when he is in the Highlands and has been opposing the waste incinerator for years.
His company’s appeal was lodged on the grounds that the Scottish Government reporter, Richard Dent, failed to take proper account of the impact of the incinerator on road safety at the Tomich junction, off the A9 Inverness to Thurso road, and failed to properly assess alternative sites.
The hearing continues today.