PLANS for a power plant facility in Inverkeithing have been granted despite concerns that the facility will affect local air quality.

Members of Fife Council's Central and West Planning Committee approved the proposals which will see the creation of the gas plant with associated infrastructure on the Belleknowes Industrial Estate.

The firm behind the plans say the development is designed to "smooth over the troughs" in electricity supply caused by intermittent generation such as that from wind and solar, providing a critical service to the grid by being able to respond at short notice to requests from National Grid.”

A report recommending approval of the plans by planners said the the proposals were considered to represent a "good fit" in land use and design terms with the general industrial character of the area.

It added: "Further to this, it is considered that the proposal is also acceptable as it would be designed, scaled and would replace an existing building in poor condition with lower level structures typical of some of the storage facilities within the wider industrial estate.

"The peaking plant is not expected to cause any impacts that would of itself detrimentally affect residential amenity or prevent other employment uses operating nearby. The scheme would also assist in providing alternative sources of energy to the National Grid in periods of peak demand.

"Environmental, landscape, flood risk and road safety considerations can all be met and there are no other significant material considerations that would justify refusal of the application."

Scottish Green MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Mark Ruskell, slammed the decision.

“It is very disappointing that councillors have ignored the concerns widely raised about the impact these type of gas plants can have on local air quality," he said. "Residents, NHS Fife and SEPA have all voiced warnings.

“Furthermore, in reaching this decision there has been no effective way of measuring demand and no consideration for the climate emergency. Fife Council recognised the emergency last year, but they are denying the science behind it.

"Building new fossil fuel plants is a huge step backwards when parts of the world are literally on fire. It’s vital that councillors don’t compound the problem by approving a second plant a kilometre away at Hillend, which they are considering on Monday.”

The second proposal, from Gas Generation Growforth Ltd, for a similar facility at Clockluine Road in Hillend was refused by councillors last April. However an appeal will be heard by the Fife Planning Review board on Monday.

As reported in the Press earlier this month, local residents have raised concerns about the affects the plants would have.

Ian Wragg, of the Hillend Action Group, said: “Everyone has the right to breathe clean air and both SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) and NHS Fife have raised public health concerns.

“I have a five-year-old son who is asthmatic and I worry about the impact the toxic nitrogen oxide emissions will have on his breathing.”