September 20, 2014
Scotland

Community councillors under fire in Prestonpans substation row

East Lothian News | 19 September 2014 | www.eastlothiannews.co.uk

Prestonpans Community Council has defended its decision to back plans for a new substation on land near Cockenzie Power Station.

When they met last week, members were asked to justify their positon to angry residents who fear they could soon be living in a “turbine town”.

The development, approved by East Lothian Council last month, will provide onshore transmission works for a new wind farm being proposed by Inch Cape Offshore Limited off the Angus coastline.

There was widespread opposition to the substation and its encroachment onto the site of the Battle of Prestonpans.

The scheme is also seen as a precursor to a separate and larger proposal by Scottish Enterprise for a marine energy park on the site of the decommissioned power plant.

Asked to explain the community council’s stance, chairman James Yule said consideration had to be given to job creation and the potential gain for Prestonpans, in terms of a new slipway and other community improvements funded by the developer.

Full story in this week’s East Lothian News and Musselburgh News, on sale now.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/09/20/community-councillors-under-fire-in-prestonpans-substation-row/