A NEW mini nuclear power station could be constructed on the existing Hunterston site.

The News can reveal controversial plans will be put to a top council meeting this week for the construction of a small modular reactor, similar to the one pictured here, replacing the current Hunterston B facility.

The Tory-led plan - which would be a first in Britain - will protect jobs and the area's skillset according to supporters of the proposal.

Preparatory work on the new station could begin as soon as 2023, when Hunterston is scheduled to come offline.

The move is sure to spark fury among campaigners who have called for the station to be shut down with immediate effect after concerns over cracks in the graphite cores of two reactors.

A motion has been put to the council by West Kilbride councillor Todd Ferguson asking them to support the plan.

Cllr Ferguson, who is being seconded by Largs councillor Tom Marshall, says the move will 'protect the nuclear industry and professional workforce' in the area.

Hunterston B is due to be decommissioned in 2023 but has been dogged with problems in relation to cracks in its graphite core.

The UK Government is proposing to invest up to £18m to help develop the first new-style station, will be cheaper to construct than traditional nuclear plants and designed in a compact way.

A Rolls Royce led consortium is currently designing the new concept small modular reactor, with a working model expected to be in action within 10 years.

Each power station could create clean energy to power 750,000 homes - and the two councillors say Largs would be the perfect place to home one.

Cllr. Ferguson said: "Nobody is under any illusions that we stand to lose a lot of highly skilled jobs when Hunterston shuts.

"The UK and Scottish Government have said that they are open to new technology at an energy briefing and the idea now is to gather local support and approach Scottish Government environment minister Paul Wheelhouse to see if they are really serious about it.

"We are looking to protect our workforce and local businesses that have benefitted from having Hunterston on their doorstep.

"Three provinces in Canada are already saying this is the technology of the future and its value internationally is expected to be between £250bn and £400bn by 2030. My motion is effectively to find out what the contingency plan is for when Hunterston comes offline in 2023 and if this is a viable alternative.

SNP Councillor Alan Hill however says he has reservations about the plans.

He told the News: "Any kind of new nuclear needs to take into account the costs of decommissioning as the total cost as otherwise it is a false picture.

"It maybe cheaper to construct a small modular nuclear power station but is it cheap to deconstruct?

"We are going to be decommissioning Hunterston for decades to come - so you need to factor those costs into any new nuclear and the legacy it leaves behind.

"I think the Conservatives are trying to play politics rather than to be taken seriously as they know fine well that the Scottish Government operate a no new nuclear policy.

"Given the length of time it will take to decommission Hunterston B, there will be jobs at the site in future years.

"Obviously any loss of jobs is regrettable, but the solution to the problem is not to build a new nuclear power station.

"In a country like Scotland we have potential for wind and wave energy and we don't require nuclear on that basis."

Cllr. Marshall hit back, saying: "With the closure of the Hunterston B plant in 2023 we are going to lose several hundred jobs.

"We are facing a climate change emergency and by cutting your carbon dioxide you can make a difference. Nuclear is the way to go.

"There is a real problem in North Ayrshire going to develop with the loss of the employment at the existing site and this could be a way to combat that."