Coal protest over new power station

ENVIRONMENTAL groups have hit out at plans for a new coal-fired power station in Scotland.

Ayrshire Power, owned by Peel Energy, formally lodged plans for the new plant in Hunterston, Ayrshire, yesterday.

The proposal, first submitted in March, has been checked by officials and can now be opened for public comment and consideration by the Scottish Government.

Dr Dan Barlow, head of policy at WWF Scotland, described it as a "damaging and superfluous coal power station" and highlighted it would capture just a fraction of emissions from the outset.

Friends of the Earth Scotland said it would be "massively polluting and make a mockery of Scotland's much vaunted climate change ambitions".