A PUBLIC meeting has been organised over the Scottish Government's decision to call in controversial plans to build a giant substation on part of the former Cockenzie Power Station site.

The move, which means Scottish Ministers will decide on the future of the site rather than East Lothian Council – which has only just acquired the site from ScottishPower – has received heavy criticism locally.

Ministers declared the unusual move had been taken because the plan was potentially of "national importance", but critics slammed it as undemocratic.

READ MORE: Scottish Ministers call in Cockenzie Power Station site plans

Now in reaction to the decision, South Scotland MSP Michelle Ballantyne (Con) has arranged a public meeting to discuss the plans.

The meeting takes place at 7.30pm in Prestonpans Town Hall on Thursday.

All are welcome to go along and voice their opinions on the plans and the future of the site.

The substation plans have been lodged by Inch Cape Offshore Limited, which is owned by Red Rock – a subsidiary of China's State Development and Investment Corporation – and critics of the plan were quick to point out that the announcement of the decision to call in the application came as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was in China to promote business links.

However, the Scottish Government has said the First Minister's visit had no bearing on the decision to call in the application.

If approved, the substation would bring energy ashore from a planned wind farm off the Angus coast.

But it has been dismissed as a "giant shed" by Prestonpans Community Council as it will be controlled remotely and not provide local employment.

The community council wants to instead see a cruise port created at the site.