The owners of a firm planning to build a substation on part of the Battle of Prestonpans site have been invited to join a community fight to move it onto neighbouring land.

The Battle of Prestonpans Trust wants the substation to be moved onto brownfield land, currently owned by ScottishPower at the site of their former coal plant, across the road from the former Cockenzie Power Station.

The coal plant is being dismantled by ScottishPower along with the power station, with its iconic chimneys due for demolition in September.

The trust has strongly objected to plans by firm Inchcape Offshore Windfarms (ICOL) to build a substation on the battle site, adjoining the coal plant land, and is calling on ScottishPower to release the coal plant land for the substation rather than forcing it to be built on their historic grounds.

It proposes creating a united appeal to ScottishPower from itself, the Coastal Regeneration Alliance – which is creating a community vision for the surrounding land – and Inchcape owners Repsol for co-operation.

A spokesperson for the trust said: “ScottishPower have never given any reason whatever as to why they cannot release some brownfield land that by definition could be more cost-effective for Repsol as they come ashore and connect to the National Grid.

“We’d like quite simply to know why a national heritage asset in our battle site should be despoiled when apparently a better option is readily to hand.

“What is the over-riding national priority for sustainable economic growth that allows such despoilation?” ICOL representatives have insisted they have been given planning permission by East Lothian Council to build on the battle site and believe it is the best option.

However, in a recent email to the trust, they said they would consider a “structured discussion” with representatives of the trust if it was based on a “firm proposal for a win/win scenario”.

Founding trustee of the Battle Trust Dr Gordon Prestoungrange said he believed uniting to make a public appeal to ScottishPower to free up the coal plant land was a win/win for all involved.

He said: “ICOL representatives say ‘they like where they are’ and nobody is offering them anything else that would work for them...yet. We think East Lothian Council, Prestonpans Community Council, Repsol and ourselves should all very publicly lobby ScottishPower and ask for 10 good reasons why it’s not a sensible and readily achievable outcome."

A spokesperson for ScottishPower said: “Our focus continues to be on the dismantlement works at the power station site.

"We can’t comment on proposals from other companies, but we have a good relationship with the Battle of Prestonpans Heritage Trust, and we have been talking to them recently about a visit to site.”