Controversial plans for a GBP3 billion power station have attracted more than 20,000 objections, which campaigners claim is a record high for any project in Scotland. The proposal for Hunterston in North ayrshire would be the first coal-fired power station built in Scotland since the 1970s, and comes as the nearby Hunterston B nuclear power station is being prepared for decommissioning. about a quarter of the UK's ageing fleet of power stations are expected to close over the next 15 years and the firm behind the proposal, ayrshire Power, says that failing to replace them could jeopardise future electricity supplies and push up bills. However, environmentalists say the power station would be "climate-wrecking" and could damage a nationally important wildlife site. The Royal Society for the Protection for Birds said more than 74 acres of a coastal site used by tens of thousands of wintering water birds would be "destroyed" if the new power station was built. aed??n Smith, head of planning and development at RSPB Scotland, said: "I think these figures demonstrate the strength of public feeling against the building of a new Hunterston power station, and the level of local opposition is clear to see. "We hope that the views of local people will be taken into account when North ayrshire Council considers its position on the proposals." WWF Scotland director Dr Richard Dixon said: "The huge public oppos