Coal-fired power station plans ‘riddled with errors’

A PROPOSAL to build a £3 billion coal-fired power station is “riddled with schoolboy errors” about the environment, pollution and local wildlife, campaigners have said.

More than 20,000 people have already signed a petition to stop the plant at Hunterston in North Ayrshire.

Ayrshire Power wants to build the station at the site and, if approved, it would be the first new coal-fired power station to be built since the 1970s.

The company, owned by Peel Energy, said the proposed coal and biomass fuel station could meet the needs of up to three million homes.

North Ayrshire Council will hear views from objectors and the applicant today. Groups including WWF Scotland and RSPB Scotland highlighted what they said were “inaccuracies and errors” in the proposals.

The list of apparent errors includes failing to tell the difference between the UK’s largest eagle and a small moorland bird. Campaigners said the application suggests that black grouse and white-tailed eagle were present on the site when in fact it was blackcap and wheatear.

They also said Ayrshire Power overestimated the potential emissions reduction from the proposed coal plant..

Ayrshire Power said: “Minor errors have absolutely no bearing on what we believe is a compelling and robust proposal”.