A PUBLIC meeting to discuss plans to build a substation on the site of the Battle of Prestonpans saw more than 50 people turn up to talk to developers.

Inch Cape Offshore Limited (ICOL) held the first of two community consultations in Prestonpans last week.

However they said many people who attended thought they were there to discuss out-dated plans for the site, including a gas-fired power station and Scottish Enterprise's abandoned proposals for an energy park.

Richard Copeland, Inch Cape project manager, said the company was delighted by the turnout at Prestonpans Community Centre saying it was a chance to address people's misconceptions about their project.

He said: "We were delighted with the turnout at Thursday’s community consultation event regarding the renewal application of the onshore transmission works planning permission in principle.

"It was a great opportunity to speak with members of the public, hear their comments and answer questions, and in many cases address misconceptions about the project.

Inch Cape are planning to build an offshore wind farm, off the Angus coast, and want to bring the energy created onshore at the former Cockenzie Power Station site.

They plan to feed the energy into the national grid through a substation which would be built on a section of the battle site next to the old coal plant site.

The sub station was given planning permission in principle by East Lothian Council three years ago despite objections from local community groups the Coastal Regeneration Alliance and Battle of Prestonpans Heritage Trust.

Both groups believe the sub station should be built on the original industrial footprint left by the power station and coal plant.

Delays to the wind farm project mean Inch Cape now have to apply to renew planning permission which was only granted for three years.

They held the first public consultation on Thursday last week with a second one today in Port Seton Centre, from 3.30pm until 8pm.

The company revealed many people who attended the first session mistook Inch Cape's sub station for other previously proposed in the area, citing the Scottish Power mothballed gas-fired power station or the Scottish Enterprise Energy Park and wind turbine manufacturing plants.

They also revealed one recurring issue was the impact of electromagnetic fields (EMF)on the health of those living or frequenting areas close to the connecting cables. Inch Cape Offshore Limited has studied its own and other existing cables and says the total EMF for the onshore transmission works would be well below the recommended limits.