The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Worried locals will get to query controversial opencast site plans
Power plant proposals to be discussed at public meeting
Controversial plans for one of the UK’s biggest opencast mining sites are to go under the microscope today.
People living near the derelict Westfield site will be given the chance to air any concerns about proposals for a power station alongside a green energy park at a public meeting.
Planning permission in principle was granted by councillors in October for the energy park and industrial estate, with Durham-based developer Hargreaves Services claiming it could create up to 2,500 jobs.
A week later proposals were brought forward for a power plant on the same site with 10 gas engines which would provide huge quantities of energy for the national grid.
Applicant Westfield Energy Ltd claimed the plant could help safeguard Britain’s energy independence.
However, it has prompted concern among environmental groups and local people, who are now seeking further information.
Benarty Community Forum has organised a public meeting in the Benarty Centre, Ballingry, to discuss the plans and any issues arising from it.
Green MSP Mark Ruskell will be in attendance and it is hoped other MSPs and councillors, as well as a representative from the company involved, will also go along.
Lorna Bett from the forum said: “We’ve arranged the meeting to find out what people know about it, what they want to know, what – if anything – can be done about it and is there a need to do anything about it.
“We’ve invited the company and we hope they will be there to answer questions.
“Hopefully, people will make a decision as to what they want to do but we have to find out first if there is any concern.”
Powered by natural gas, it is estimated the plant could produce up to 19.96 megawatts of energy, enough to power hundreds of homes.
Developers say the natural gas engines are more environmentally friendly than fuel oils and would only run for short periods of time.
The 423-hectare site has been dormant since mining ceased in 1998.
The meeting starts at 7pm.
We’ve arranged the meeting to find out what people know about it, what they want to know and what – if anything – can be done about it