Leith Biomass protest at Holyrood

Photo credit: @Yonmei via TwitpicLeithers took the Leith Biomass protest to Holyrood today. The aim of the protest was to encourage more MSPs to question the claims made by Forth Energy for their proposals to build a giant power plant on Leith Docks. A number of MSPs came out to speak to the protesters including: Robin Harper, Malcolm Chisholm, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Cathy Peattie, Roseanna Cunningham and George Foukes. Shiela Gilmore, Labour MP for Edinburgh East was also there in support.

Guardian Beatblogger, Michael MacLeod was there. He interveiwed local councillors Gordon Munro and Rob Munn.

Both them said that they had not heard of a single person who supports the Forth Energy proposals. You can listen to the Guardian Edinburgh interview on Audioboo. 

In the interview, Cllr Munn revealed that Lib Dem Councillor, for the Leith Walk ward, Louise Lang, has now come out publicly in opposition to the plan, and both councillors conclude that the opposition to the plant in Edinburgh is now truly cross party, increasing the chances that the city will object to the plan, forcing a public enquiry.

In Holyrood, Shirley Anne Somerville asked the environment minister a question in parliament on the current government policy, reporting the response via Twitter:

Asked qu re #leithbiomass in parliament. Minister confirmed govt wish for small scale off grid chp biomass. Complete opposite of Leith. #fbless than a minute ago via TweetDeckS-A Somerville
S_A_Somerville

Last week, both Broughton and New Town and Leith Central Community Councils voted to oppose the plans too.

Meanwhile, Dr Ulrich Loening, an academic and timber firm owner, who was once described as one of "ten Scots who canl save the world," for his environmental work has written a guest post on the Friends of the Earth Scotland blog explaining why large biomass plants, like the proposed Leith power plant are unlikely to save much carbon any time soon.

Update on February 25, 2011 by Ally

Today, the Guardian published a YouTube video featuring interviews with many of the people at the Holyrood protest: