PRESS RELEASE

MP for Edinburgh East Sheila Gilmore has praised community activists who have fought plans to build a biomass power plant at Leith Docks.

Forth Energy, a joint venture between Forth Ports and SSE, proposed constructing a large scale biomass plant on undeveloped land at Leith Docks. Forth Energy today pulled the plans in anticipation of new plans for the former Port of Leith.

Ms Gilmore, who has referred to the plans as "greenwash" in the past, welcomes Forth Energy's decision to withdraw the plans.

Commenting on the decision, Ms Gilmore, who submitted her own objection to the plans and has campaigned consistently against the plans, congratulated residents:

" Activists and residents across Leith have fought tirelessly to block these plans for a biomass fired power station by Forth Energy. With very few funds the No Leith Biomass group have been able to reach out to the whole community in Leith and the rest of Edinburgh. I hope they are truly proud that their efforts have been successful.

This is a true David and Goliath tale. I want to pass on my congratulations to everyone who signed a petition, hung a poster in their shop window, or wrote an objection to the Scottish Government.

Forth Energy's plans would have been a blight on Edinburgh's skyline and were incompatible with the Scottish planning framework.

If Forth Energy do come back with any further plans for Leith Docks, they need to take this opportunity to back genuinely renewable energy projects."

For further information contact David Raine (Parliamentary Assistant to Sheila Gilmore MP) david.raine@parliament.uk