RAP DONATES CASE AGAINST THE GAS PLANT TO HOLMES CHAPEL LIBRARY

RAP DONATES CASE AGAINST THE GAS PLANT TO HOLMES CHAPEL LIBRARY

In line with RAP's policy of openness in spreading the case against Scottish Power's gas plant, RAP has donated to Holmes Chapel library, a copy of the full technical case that helped persuade Cheshire County to throw out Scottish Power's planning application.

This fully-illustrated and comprehensively referenced document is now available for anyone to read. Said RAP research specialist David Ord, who wrote the document: "Throughout our campaign we've particularly stressed the importance of making no claims that we can't back up with evidence from published sources, and we want the public to see how carefully we've done this in our case against the gas plant."

John Halstead, RAP's Chairman added: "In their response to Cheshire County Council's 'NO', I see that Scottish Power are still making the ludicrous claim that there is a national need for the gas plant. I suppose this their equivalent of a conditioned reflex, like blinking in the face of danger! So can I point out that our document totally annihilates any claim that the UK needs the gas plant." David Ord concluded: "If you want to see the truth about the gas plant, it's now in Holmes Chapel Library." Dr John Edwards, Press and Media Officer

Cheshire says NO GAS PLANT!

Cheshire says NO GAS PLANT!

Following the rejection of Scottish Power's gas-plant planning application at yesterday's meeting of Cheshire County Council's 'Development Regulatory Committee', RAP Chairman John Halsted commented: "We're delighted with the convincing demonstration by Councillors, that an impartial review of Scottish Power's plans proves there's just no case for this ugly, polluting, and un-necessary project; and we unstintingly praise the County Council for its response to public opinion, and for the impressive fairness and thoroughness of all its proceedings in this matter."

Dr Jaime Atherton, retired GP and RAP Committee member, added: "This is excellent news for the many tens of thousands of people who are in serious fear of the danger and pollution from the gas plant, and we hope that Scottish Power will now have the sense to cut their losses and abandon this wretched business." John Halsted concluded: "But here's a warning for Scottish Power in case they try to appeal against the County Council's decision. RAP is already planning the campaign to fight your appeal. We are talking to sponsors and backers, we are formalising our support into a mass membership, and - we are preparing some interesting surprises for Scottish Power if need be! We're here for keeps. We're not going away. We're going to win." Dr John Edwards, Press and Media Officer

Scottish Power's Planning Application REJECTED

Scottish Power's Planning Application REJECTED

Cheshire County Council's Development Regulatory Committee, throw out the Gas Plant planning application because: "The scale and extent of the proposed development would be inappropriate within the open countryside" The Councillors thereby showed that they care about the environment, they care about safety, and they are in tune with the electors wishes.

Adrian Lea -Fails to reject Scottish Power's gas plant

Fails to reject Scottish Power's gas plant

Responding to the report supporting Scottish Power's Byley gas plant, by County Council Planning Officer Adrian Lea, RAP Chairman John Halstead said: "This isn't approval: just Adrian Lea's recommendation to Councillors who will make the actual decision on October 23rd, but we're amazed that Mr Lea is unmoved by so much evidence that the gas plant is risky, polluting, ugly, and above all - absolutely unnecessary." David Ord, RAP technical specialist added: "Adrian Lea's decision not to reject Scottish Power's proposals goes against our comprehensively researched evidence. However his decision is based on planning technicalities and does not consider aspects such as safety or the wishes of the entire local community, as shown by an enormous number (over 9,000 and growing) of protest letters to Councillors. There is no other local matter that has caused such widespread fear, and it's deeply disturbing that the views of so many electors can be set aside by a planning officer" John Halstead concluded: "Now we look to the County Councillors, who will certainly be responsive to public opinion, and who have looked carefully at our evidence, to ignore Mr Lea's report, and to reject a proposal that is designed purely to make money for Scottish Power, bringing no worthwhile benefit to the UK in general, nor Cheshire in particular." Dr John Edwards, Press and Media Officer

COME AND KILL THE GAS PLANT !

COME AND KILL THE GAS PLANT !

Fresh from battering Scottish Power with a dazzling presentation to Cheshire County Council's 'Development Regulatory Committee', on October 16th, RAP appealed to supporters to turn out in big numbers, on Tuesday 23rd October at County Hall Chester at 10 am. Said Rap Chairman, John Halstead: "One more heave from the public, please, to back over 9,000 protest letters! Please be there with banners and placards, at County Hall when the Council decide on Scottish Power's proposals.

We need you for about an hour, from 10 am, to give good shots for the press and TV cameras, showing the whole country how much we oppose the gas plant." Halstead stressed that RAP hope the County will oppose the gas plant, but if Scottish Power appeal against the decision, then RAP is ready and willing for the long haul, completely un-deterred by the costs of being represented at a public enquiry.

Press Spokesman Dr John Edwards, added: "We shall fight to the end, so we're already drawing up plans to raise money, including approaches to major potential donors sympathetic to our cause. We've proved we can win a complex technical argument, and now we shall turn those same organisational skills to fund-raising." Scottish Power take heed - RAP is not going away. Dr John Edwards, Press and Media Officer

RAP TO FIGHT FOR 10 LOCAL COUNCILS

Representatives of 10 Town and Parish Councils packed a meeting last night at Cranage Village Hall, to endorse RAP as their spokesman to present the case against the Byley Gas plant, to Cheshire County Council's Development Regulatory Committee on 16th October at County Hall. After an address by John Halstead, RAP Chairman, expressing his thanks for the support from so many Councils, John Oakley, one of RAP's technical specialists, gave the presentation that will be given on October 16th. Frank Walton, Clerk of Cranage Parish Council commented: "We were all deeply impressed. This is a 'killer' case against the gas plant, and the best thing is that it's all based on technical detail, and carefully reasoned argument"

Latest information from Cheshire County Council, is that a total of 8 people, from RAP and the local Councils, may attend the Development Regulatory Committee, facing 8 from Scottish Power/Ineos Chlor. John Edwards, RAP's press spokesman, added, "We're not arrogant, because we know that the County Council will judge this case on the facts, but frankly we're deeply unimpressed with what we've seen of Scottish Power's arguments so far, and we're really looking forward to October 16th." The full list of Councils who have chosen RAP as their Champion is: Allostock Parish Council Byley Parish Meeting Cranage Parish Council, Goostrey Parish Council Holmes Chapel Parish Council Knutsford Town Council Middlewich Town Council Sandbach Town Council Somerford Parish Council Sproston Parish Council John Edwards & Frank Walton Tel:

MORE SPIN FROM THE TWINS (the gas plant twins!)

MORE SPIN FROM THE TWINS

Fresh from their backfired attempt to get their own employees to write "impartial" letters supporting the Byley gas plant, the "Gas Plant Twins" have tried again. This time Scottish Power has written to local companies seeking support for the Byley gas plant, on the basis of pie-in-the-sky "promises" of juicy contracts if the project goes ahead. Scottish Power's letter dangles the bait that their policy is to use "local labour and contractors wherever possible" a nice get-out clause, since a massive contract to build the gas plant's three giant compressors has just been awarded to the US company General Electric - about as far from "local labour" as could possibly be.

RAP Chairman John Halstead commented: "Scottish Power ran a 'business forum' attracting local companies looking for contracts, and got them to register their names so they can be used as cannon-fodder, expected to write to County Hall in support of the gas plant! It's typical spin, since the fact is that all the big business will go to specialist contractors way beyond Cheshire." Meanwhile the latest count of genuine letters protesting against the gas plant has topped 8,000 reflecting the will of a community united in opposition to Scottish Power's proposals. Dr John Edwards, Press and Media Officer