Bird protection

It is great news that the Scottish Parliament has rejected plans to build a new, unabated coal-fired power station at Hunterston (your report, 19 March).

We welcome this support from MSPs – as well as from Alan Black (Letters, 18 March). He and other readers should be reassured that our objection to any development, including this one, is always based on its impact on the surrounding wildlife, habitat and the wider environment – not on the type of development.

The proposed power station would permanently damage one of the best remaining inter-tidal mudflats on the outer Clyde, an important habitat for a wide range of bird species and a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

We would oppose any development that would be this harmful to such an important wildlife site. The current proposal is doubly worrying as it would significantly increase carbon emissions, causing climate change.

Renewables, including the wave and tidal projects announced this week, will play a key role in achieving Scotland's climate change goals, but these can and must be delivered without harming our most important places for wildlife.

LLOYD AUSTIN

Head of conservation policy

RSPB Scotland, Edinburgh