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Monday, 20 December 2004

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

Thursday, 9 December 2004

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."