CARDENDEN Community Council is concerned about the proposal from Hargreaves for a gas power generating plant as part of the Westfield Opencast site regeneration.

An application for planning permission was lodged as part the proposals to make the site a green energy park.

But the community council are really worried that this will bring a mixed situation to Westfield.

Secretary David Taylor said: “The application for a master plan for the Westfield site was recently approved by Fife Council, but there was no indication of this type of installation within the plan.

“The plan did, however, include proposals for a solar farm, which included both land and water based panels.

“It is noted that the proposed location for the gas generators  will occupy an area set aside for the land based solar panels. Clearly there is a conflict of interests, which needs to be resolved and clarified before this application can be considered.”

The community council are asking that no decision be made until more information comes forward, and Mr Taylor added: “Further, the purpose of this site was to produce green energy (solar panels), rather than fossil fuel energy (gas generators) and will not create any permanent jobs.

“This application represents only a small part of this very large site, and it is requested that planning approval be withheld until more details of other developments are submitted”.