MP - ‘Do all you can to save jobs at power station’

SSE announced the plant will close by the end of March 2016 with the loss of up to 400 jobs owing to rising costs and new environmental legislation.

But Ms Cooper met executives from the company last week and claims there is already two years’ worth of coal piled up at the plant.

She said: “The news of the closure has been devastating for people in our area.

“Many families are very worried about their future, which is why I met with SSE and why I’m calling on them to do everything they can to extend the life of the plant.

“We all know how important greener energy production is, but that’s why we have campaigned for so long for clean coal technology and we also need to support skilled jobs.”

Paul Smith, SSE’s managing director of generation, said it was a “very difficult decision” to make to close the site.

But Ms Cooper said: “There is nearly two years’ worth of coal sitting at Ferrybridge that could be burned.

“Production should continue at least until that runs out and I’ve asked SSE to reveal how much of the problem is because of the government’s carbon price support tax – which appears to be responsible for millions of pounds of losses.

“They’ve promised to get me that information by next week so that I can put pressure on ministers to help.

“We need action from the company and action from the government as well to stop these job losses and to safeguard energy supply over the next few years.”

Ferrybridge councillor Graham Stokes said the closure would be “devastating.”