Construction firms in Scotland are on tenterhooks today as councillors in North Ayrshire meet to decide later whether to support controversial proposals for a new coal-fired power station at Hunterston.

Although planning officials have recommended the local authority rejects the plans, Ayrshire Power still wants to build a plant with experimental carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology at the site event though environmental groups claim it would damage local wildlife and make climate change targets harder to achieve and there have been more than 20,000 objections to the proposals.

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Ayrshire Power, which is owned by Peel Energy, has argued the coal-fired power station would represent a major economic opportunity for Scotland and would help fill a predicted shortfall in the UK's generating capacity.

If given the go-ahead, thousands of jobs could result in the beleaguered building trade.

(BMcC)