A £24 million gas and oil-fired power station is planned for Leamington Spa.

Warwick District Council planning sub-committee hopes to make a decision on the proposal at its next meeting on 22 February.

If permission is granted construction could start in October and the turbines will begin to spin a year later.

Carlton Power of Yorkshire wants to build the power station, dominated by a seventy feet tall chimney, in Queensway on the disused Automotive products sports ground.

A staff of ten will operate the power station. It will be titled the Leamington Spa Energy Centre and will produce 49 megawatts of power a year through a Rolls Royce Trent gas turbine.

The company claims the new energy centre will help displace power at present generated by less-efficient, more polluting power stations in other parts of the country.

Warwick District Council staff are currently examining the proposals in detail and preparing a report and recommendations for the planning sub committee.

Planning Officer Emmelda McClean said:

"The company has submitted an environmental statement on the impact of the station, which is being studied by environmental health officers. We are also waiting for comments from the Government.

"This is the first energy centre of its type in Warwickshire although there are a few others around the country."