Residents take protest to the streets

Residents against a proposed biomass plant in Leith, Scotland, have taken their protest to the next level.

Behind the £360 million (€426.6 million) development is Forth Energy, a renewable energy company, which claims that the new facility could create over 200 jobs, both during and post-construction, and help Scotland meet its renewable energy targets.

If approval were granted for the proposed plant, it would be built on a site the size of 17 football pitches and will include a 120m-high chimneystack.

Forth stresses that its facility will meet strict international standards for emissions, and the company is also working with local architects to help it blend into its surroundings.

Nevertheless, campaigners remain displeased with the plans and have taken to the streets of Edinburgh to urge the government to reject the proposals.

The locals are concerned about the pant's size, increased air pollution and the impact it would have on the surrounding area. Hundreds of people have signed a petition, while a Facebook page – Leith against the Biomass Plant Campaign – has been created and has more than 550 followers.

The government's decision on whether Forth's proposal will materialise is expected following the consultation period, which will end in March this year.