THE Longannet taskforce, set up to help workers affected by the plant closure, has met for the first time this week.

Co-chaired by Fergus Ewing MSP, minister for business, energy and tourism, and the leader of Fife Council David Ross, the group aim to produce an “economic recovery plan” to support the local economy ahead of the March 2016 shutdown.

Trade Unions also have a voice on the board along with other Scottish businesses and representatives from neighbouring local authorities, including Clackmannanshire.

The key aim of the taskforce will be to secure new jobs for the workers and “create sustainable employment in the local area”.

Councillor David Ross said: “This is a hugely disappointing situation but I am very encouraged by the positive attitude and commitment shown by all those attending today’s meeting to work together to mitigate the impact of the closure.

“The primary focus has to be on support for the workforce and the supply chain but I am pleased that everyone also recognises the need to address the impact the closure will have on local communities and the need to create alternative employment opportunities for the longer term.” ScottishPower says it is trying to find the “best outcomes for everyone affected by the closure” of the station and see the taskforce as having an “important role to play going forward”.

Mr Ewing added: “The closure of Longannet next March will have far reaching impacts on the local and national economy. The Scottish Government and its agencies will do everything possible to support the hundreds of people and many businesses affected by the closure.

“Members of the taskforce today agreed to develop an Economic Recovery Plan to mitigate the effects of the closure. The plan will support workers to find new jobs, mitigate the effects on the supply chain, produce a masterplan for the long term future of the Longannet site and consider how to create sustainable employment in the local area.

“That work will take a number of months to complete and I welcome the commitments made today by all parties to work closely together to address the issues constructively.” Meanwhile, the furore surrounding high-transmission charges — one of the major reasons behind the plant closure — has continued within the political sphere.

Earlier this week, energy expert Professor Paul Younger of Glasgow University branded the UK energy system unfit for purpose and claimed the current set-up ignores Scottish interests as it concentrates on London.

He said the Thatcher government “rigged the market in such a way that the only big conurbation they recognise as being worth servicing is London”.

Younger’s comments were backed up by a number of MPs and MSPs, including Alex Salmond who said the format “amounts to the sabotage of a key part of the Scottish economy”.

However, the Conservatives’ energy spokesman Murdo Fraser hit back and said: “It was utterly predictable that the SNP would rush to blame Westminster for the closure of a Scottish power station.

“But the fact is the high transmission costs the Scottish Government are citing are partly driven by its own obsession for expensive and unreliable wind energy.

“And if it was to pursue its ‘postage stamp’ system, experts have already said this would add an extra £7 billion onto the bills of energy customers.”