So there you have it

If you have read the story from the initial day, you will have seen that the residents were up against a big PLc company in scottish power with there cheque book in front of the labour Government and the whole thing stunk of corruption.

ANOTHER BIG TURNOUT BACKS RAP AT SECON PUBLIC MEETING AGAINST GAS PLANT II

Opening a Saturday evening meeting at Cranage Conference centre on March 16, RAP Chairman John Halstead, welcomed protesters against Gas Plant II, to the second big meeting in this series, Said John "Following last night's packed meeting in Goostrey, this sort of backing is proof of the strength and credibility of our case, and an indication that people aren't going to be taken in by any nonsense from Scottish claiming they've responded to local arguments and fears. They haven't! They're ignoring the views of a local community united against Gas Plant II, and the very real fears of thousands of people." Next, the detailed technical case against Gas Plant II was presented by John Oakley of RAP, who reminded the audience of the dangers, pollution and technical risks the plant would bring, and all of this when there is no scrap of evidence that Britain needs Gas Plant II. It's just a profit-making scheme driven by greed not need. Finally, appealing to the audience to make known their opposition to Gas Plant II, by writing to Cheshire County Council, RAP Press Spokesman, Dr John Edwards added: "All letters must be at County Hall by March 28th, to be in the official count - a vicious deadline! In response, and for speed, we've drafted proforma letters for people to sign, and RAP to deliver. Ladies and Gentlemen - give us the tools and we will finish the job!" RAP is still asking: Where's the Salt? There'd be only a few metres of salt under Scottish Power's gas cavities, despite the demand by UK expert British Gas Storage, for a minimum of 100 metres.

How could this possibly be safe? Scottish Power refuse to answer.

The story of what happened

This blog will detail the fight the residents of a small village in Cheshire had with the Labour Goverment and Scottish Power Plc over plans for underground Gas Storage caverns in Byley, Cheshire, United Kingdom

Prescott claims his Pound of Flesh

Prescott claims his Pound of Flesh

RAP has learned, via press contacts, that John Prescott and Patricia Hewitt will indeed claim their legal expenses against Cranage Parish Council, for the Council's High Court attempt to overturn Prescott & Hewitt's decision to approve Scottish Power's Gas Plant.

Said John Halstead, Chairman of RAP:

"It would have been nice to have heard direct from Prescott and co, rather than from friendly journalists, but that's just his bad manners. Mainly we're fiercely critical of the sheer, staggering meanness of government departments that spend billions of pounds - not all of it wisely - but want to take their miserable pound of flesh from a Parish Council backed by ordinary local people. We understand the Secretaries of State say there were 'no special circumstances' ruling against their claiming expense, but that's incomprehensible. The fight against the gas plant was conducted on behalf of tens of thousands of Cheshire people who were in fear for their homes. Are we to be punished for that?"

RAP believes the next stage in this process is for a negotiation between lawyers acting for the Secretaries of State, and for Cranage Parish Council, to assess whether or not the full extent of the c.£13,000 costs will have to be paid to the Secretaries of State.

John Halstead added,

"We're confidant in our lawyers and we look to them for some better and fairer treatment than we've had from John Prescott and Patricia Hewitt."

Dr John Edwards, Press and Media Officer

Future steps for the fight against the gas plant

Following the High Court decision that John Prescott and Patricia Hewitt's approval of the gas plant must stand, and that the Secretaries of State will take their 'Pound of Flesh' by claiming up to £13,000 costs against Cranage Parish Council, RAP is considering future steps to oppose the building of the plant.

Meanwhile one course of action that will certainly be followed up is to ensure full and complete compliance by Scottish Power, with the numerous terms and conditions surrounding the approval that has been granted.

BRITAIN DOES NOT NEED THE BYLEY GAS PLANT

Before all else - remember that
BRITAIN DOES NOT NEED THE BYLEY GAS PLANT

The UK already has an effective and well planned gas storage system

The Byley Gas plant would add insignificant extra capacity (3.8%)

Transco - responsible to Government for the United Kingdoms gas supply sees

NO NEED TO INVEST IN MORE GAS STORAGE CAPACITY

And gas demand nationally is not greatly increasing

But gas exports to other countries are increasing rapidly and Scottish Power want to sell gas overseas

And Scottish Power has a get-rich-quick scheme - for the technical case to back up these claims

High Court backs Cheshire Gas Plant

HIGH COURT BACKS GAS PLANT:
A SAD DAY FOR DEMOCRACY

RAP regrets to report that on Thursday December 9th in the High Court in London, Mr Justice Davies gave judgment against Cranage Parish Council in its challenge of the decision made by the Secretaries of State - John Prescott and Patricia Hewitt - to over-rule the 2002 public inquiry which recommended against Scottish Power's Byley gas plant.

The judgment was long and highly detailed, taking over two hours to explain and reflecting the exceedingly close-fought nature of this complex case which was effectively testing the constitutional powers of the Secretaries of State in local planning decisions.

Although Mr Justice Davies's final judgment allows Scottish Power to build the gas plant, RAP thanks him for his fairness and impartiality, and stresses that he was doing no more than conducting an examination of the exotic peculiarities of planning law, as he found it.

It is significant that at one stage in the two-day hearing, when the Barrister for the Secretaries of State had finished explaining the almost unlimited powers wielded by the Secretaries in interpreting local planning regulations, Mr Justice Davies - himself not an expert in planning law - was so amazed that he commented:

"I am tempted to say 'good grief'!"

The High Court action was attended by members of Cranage Parish Council and of RAP. John Halstead, RAP Chairman, said:

"We've no quarrel with the Judge. He was so obviously trying to be fair. What's wrong is a legal system that allows John Prescott unlimited ability to run the planning system. We have to ask, what was the point of a five-week public inquiry, if John Prescott can squash it whenever he likes? It's a black day for British democracy."

After the judgment, Scottish Power waived costs against Cranage Parish Council, but the barrister for the Secretaries of State asked for costs of up to £13,000. Mr Justice Davies ordered the Secretaries of State to go away and re-consider this claim, a clear indication that Cranage's case was strong and was fully worthy of the High Court's attention.

Cranage Parish Council, together with their lawyers and with RAP will now examine the judgment in detail to seek any opportunity for further appeal.

RAP will furthermore examine every possible aspect of the gas plant proposal, and will consult RAP's many allies and supporters, to seek other routes whereby the gas plant - that hideous disfigurement on the face of rural England - might yet be prevented.

John Halstead added:

"Scottish Power can stick the corks back in their champagne. RAP's still here and still fighting."