CONTENTIOUS plans for a new coal-fired plant at Kingsnorth power station have been approved by Medway councillors.

Medway Council's Development Control Committee Wednesday night voted to raise no objection to planning permission for the plant near Rochester.

They approved an application by power generating company E.ON for two coal-fired electricity generating units at Kingsnorth, on the Hoo Peninsula.

It will be the UK's first new coal-fired power station for 30 years.

Robin Cooper, the council's director of regeneration and development, said: "This is one of the largest planning applications Medway Council has ever dealt with. Councillors visited the site and carefully took into consideration all the issues before coming to a decision.

"It is now up to central government to decide whether to give consent for this power station."

Greenpeace activists, who "invaded" Kingsnorth Power Station in October, say the £1 billion coal-fired station will be damaging for the environment.