CONCH NEWS ALERT : North Ayrshire Council Say NO
At a meeting on Wednesday, lasting less than 90 minutes, North Ayrshire Councillors voted unanimously to object to Ayrshire Power’s plans for a dirty coal-station at Hunterston. Citing concerns over health, environment and climate change the councilors were also critical of major gaps in information provided by Ayrshire Power and their failure to have credible plans to capture 100% of carbon emissions from the outset. The council also highlighted the need for an independent health impact assessment; emphasised that a public inquiry was needed given the high level of objections and also disputed that the plans were compatible with the Scottish Governments National Planning Framework.

CONCH are very pleased that the Council has taken note of the concerns of the 21,000 people who have objected and taken on board many of the issues we raised during the evidence we gave to them earlier this month. We would also like to thank our many supporters who have taken time to write to the council as well as the support from environmental groups across Scotland in campaigning against these plans.

North Ayrshire Council’s decision gives a very strong signal to the Scottish Government as to how seriously flawed and unpopular Ayrshire Powers plans are. We now want the Scottish Government to show similar leadership and also say no to dirty coal. It is now likely that the plans will go to a public inquiry, but CONCH will continue to campaign for an outright rejection from Scottish Ministers when they come to decide the application over the coming months.

CONCH
Communities Opposed to New Coal at Hunterston
www.conchcampaign.org