Despite local celebrations over the withdrawal of the Hunterston coal plant plan Fairlie activist John Riddell wanted a public inquiry.

Mr Riddell who put forward Fairlie Community Council's case for a full inquiry to North Ayrshire Council last year, expressed his disappointment in a letter to the Largs & Millport News. Mr Riddell said: "The public inquiry was both a valuable opportunity and the correct process to examine in great detail all of the very important matters essential to reducing carbon dioxide release from the world's many hundreds of existing and planned coal fired power stations."

Mr Riddell's full letter and page of views in the Largs & Millport Weekly News of July 4.