Controversial plans for one of the UK’s biggest opencast mining sites are to go under the microscope on Monday.
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.
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 communities who are now seeking further information.
Benarty Community Forum has organised a public meeting in 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 community forum said people were worried.
“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,” she said.
“We’ve invited the company and we hope they will be there to answer questions.
“Hopefully people will make a decision on Monday night 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.
The produced energy would be exported to the National Grid during periods of extreme demand.
Developers say the natural gas engines are more environmentally friendly than fuel oils and would only run for short periods of time, typically from 7am to 9am and 4pm to 8pm.
The 423-hectare site has been dormant since mining ceased in 1998.
The meeting starts at 7pm.
