A SPRAWLING power plant which would billow smoke out across Swansea Bay would be as big as three Liberty Stadiums, campaigners have warned.

The biomass at Kings Dock, Swansea, is still on the cards, despite councillors refusing to give planning permission last year.

The Pontyates tycoon behind the scheme, Clive Hughes, has since lodged an appeal with the Assembly, as well as trying to get the go-ahead for another plant in Kidwelly.

But dumfounded residents and concerned campaign groups have reacted angrily to the appeal — describing the power plant as damaging to the city's £200 million a year tourist trade.

Among those fighting against the plant is Coedbach Action Group chairman's Robin Cammish.

He told marina residents at a public meeting this week they must be prepared to put up a fight at an upcoming public enquiry in May.

"The size and scale of the Swansea plant makes for shocking reading," he said. "If you have driven past the Liberty Stadium, you know how big it is.

"Put those together three times and that the size of the plant. And instead of 60,000 fans, the developer would be employing just 90.

"This public inquiry will run for three weeks, and the Assembly must be able to hear the level of public dissent loud and clear."

Proposals for the 50 megawatt plant have caused controversy ever since they were first unveiled in 2007. It will generate electricity by burning wood-chip, imported from around the globe.

But concerned locals say a power station should not be sited in the regenerated commercial hub of SA1.

Maritime Quarter Residents Association (MQRA) members spoke for over an hour about the issue at their monthly meeting, in Swansea Civic Centre, last Monday evening.

Chairwoman Jan Lewis said: "Placing a power plant so close to people's homes and a valuable commercial area such as SA1, is degeneration and going back to Swansea's past.

"We are talking about a quarter mile long power plant, of which a third will be as high as 15 storeys."

As well as the visual impact, concerns were also been raised about the knock-on effects to the environment.

MRQA say they plan to put a strong case across at the public enquiry.

The deadline for written objections was on January 21.

But an Assembly spokeswoman added: "The person conducting the inquiry will be ask members of the public if they wish to speak.

"People do not have to apply to speak, but they will have to make themselves known at the beginning of the inquiry."

The public inquiry takes place at 10am on May 18, at The Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea.