NO GAS PLANT! THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF GAS!

NO GAS PLANT! THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF GAS!

Cranage Conference Centre 7.30 pm Friday 14th September

Before opening RAP's biggest-ever meeting, in the state-of-the-art Cranage Conference Centre, RAP Chairman John Halstead, called for a minute's silence in respect of the dead in New York and Washington, following September 11th's terrorist outrages. John asked a packed meeting to remember too, that Byley Airfield - proposed site of Scottish Power's gas plant - was once an air base manned by young American servicemen, some of whom died defending our country.

John then reminded the audience of two key dates: September 16th when the Development Planning Committee of Cheshire County Council will receive a presentation against the gas plant, from RAP, and September 23rd when the Council will decide on Scottish Power's planning application. John stressed the unique and far-sighted nature of the Council's decision to hear RAP's case, as an example of local democracy in action.

Later John Oakley, a highly-qualified engineer, and one of RAP's team of technical experts, presented an outline of the case against the gas plant, in a high-tech, brilliantly-illustrated lecture based on computer graphics. The biggest surprise of the evening was that the gas plant is not even needed, as there is no national shortage of gas. Next - and to considerable laughter - Dr John Edwards, RAP's Press and Media Spokesman, joked about the clumsy inefficiency of Scottish Power's PR campaign, promising that RAP will do to Scottish Power, what David did to Goliath. He urged the audience to continue the vital work of writing to County Councillors, and still more important, to turn out in massive numbers for a responsible, dignified protest outside County Hall Chester on September 23rd.

After a lively question and answer session, the meeting closed to loud applause and a fixed determination to stop the gas plant. Dr John Edwards, Press and Media Officer