An influential environment local expert has called for Peel Ports to make their currently vacant industrial site at Hunterston into a green energy hub as part of a strategic development.

Mr Ron Gilchrist, who helped spearhead the Fairlie Community Garden, and other similar gardens providing edible food through sustainable practices, believes that Hunterston offers a great opportunity to meet the local authority and Scottish Government targets on renewable energy.

However, Mr Gilchrist told villagers during a recent community council meeting that the matter is now of utmost importance as otherwise the area is facing a 'crisis point' by introducing heavy industry, and has called for a meeting to take place between the community council and Kenneth Gibson MSP and Patricia Gibson MP.

He said: "We need to look towards having a green energy hub with a solar farms - we could have a 10MW site which could feed all of Fairlie, Millport and a fair chunk of Largs. I believe there is tremendous potential for horticulture at the site. It mustn't have a negative environmental impact.

"There is a whole raft of enterprises which could then be drawn into the site. The point is that it should all fit in with it being a green energy hub and associated business. "

Kenneth Gibson said: "Of course, we would all like to see Hunterston’s potential maximised for the benefit of the local community and as such, I recently spent two hours discussing the site with Doug Coleman, Programme Director, Peel Ports at Clydeport itself. Together with Patricia Gibson MP, I made several suggestions as to how the port could be managed sustainably and with consideration for the local environment and community.

"There are several interesting proposals for the development of the site. For instance, it is being considered as a new multimodal centre for manufacturing, processing, logistics and energy, supporting the SNP Government’s aim of a circular, zero waste economy.

"The circular economy uses resources for as long as their natural life and then once their maximum value has been gleaned, products and materials can either be recovered or regenerated for future use. In this vein, if progressed, developments at Hunterston PARC will handle and process chemicals including liquefied natural gas, which will be used to power Scottish industry and transport. The single site has been developed to accommodate material management co-location; asset decommissioning/recycling; pre-fabrication and manufacturing; data storage; and power generation.

"As site owners, the ultimate responsibility for taking forward the future of Hunterston lies with Peel Ports themselves and they are obviously seeking to reap as much profit from the site as possible. At such a time as they do make a concrete proposal, I trust that the local community, North Ayrshire Council, myself, and other stakeholders, will have the opportunity to make our feelings known.

"Personally, my support or opposition to any proposal will be carefully considered, taking into account the local economy, employment opportunities as well as the impact on the environment and local communities. I believe our focus should be on ensuring that any projects undertaken should lead to significant inward investment and that employment and training opportunities are available to local residents.

"It remains to be seen which of their potential proposals will come to fruition, but I will of course make every effort to keep constituents informed about the future of the site and its impact on the local area."