The Department of Trade and Industry is looking at the plan

The owners of the Aberthaw station in the Vale of Glamorgan have applied to build a new plant to clean up gases from electricity production .

If approved, it would take three years to build the flue gas desulphurisation plant, which would reduce sulphur dioxide from chimneys.

But objectors living nearby say they had believed the plant was due to close.

They have called for the harbour on which the power station is built to be redeveloped with a new marina and tourism resort.

Protester Steve Hyde said: "We have all been led to believe that the power station will be coming to an end in the next few years.

We don't feel we have been informed properly about this Steve Hyde, objector

"And we have all been putting up with the noise and pollution from the power station because we were under the impression that it was only going to last for a few more years.

"Now we find out that the owners want to build this new plant which could see the power station continuing for the next 15 years.

"We don't feel we have been informed properly about this and we want a public inquiry into it.

"We have lodged our objections to this and sent in a 900-signature petition against the proposals," he added.

Telephone line

But Innogy, the German firm which owns the plant, has said that there have never been plans to close the plant in the near future.

We have certainly never said that Aberthaw would close in a couple of years Innogy spokesman

A company spokesman said: "The new European legislation will allow us to continue to burn coal at Aberthaw until 2018 without FGD (flue gas desulphurisation) so the fitting of FGD does not necessarily secure a longer future for Aberthaw.

"We have certainly never said that Aberthaw would close in a couple of years.

"Indeed, it produces around one-third of the electricity output for Wales.

"To keep local residents informed of our plans we have distributed over 9,000 leaflets which answer the most commonly asked questions about FGD," he said.

He added that a telephone line had been set up for worried residents and that plans for a drop-in session for people to talk directly to staff were being made available.

"We feel this is far more effective than holding a public meeting as residents can speak one to one with staff and it will be a less daunting opportunity for some residents than asking questions in a public meeting," he added.