COUNCILLORS and campaigners must join forces to continue the fight against plans to build a gas plant at Byley.

A leading Middlewich councillor warns a lengthy appeal process against last week's decision to reject the plans could hit taxpayers in the pocket. He is fearful a public inquiry would override public feeling and give the controversial scheme the green light.

Cty Cllr Dave Sutton said: 'Now the county council has turned the plans down, it is time to work together with the protest group RAP against an appeal.

'The council has not been able to work with the group in the past because it had to make an impartial decision, but now the decision has been made to reject the plans, we must all work together.

'A lengthy consultation process could cost Cheshire taxpayers a lot of money, so it is important we are all pulling in the same direction.

'RAP has done an excellent job so far in convincing the county council to turn the plans down and I see no reason why we should not all work together.'

Members of RAP (Residents Against the Plant) turned out in force at a meeting of Cheshire's planning committee last week to show the strength of local feeling against the controversial plans by ScottishPower. The plans were sensationally rejected by councillors at County Hall, who bowed to the strength of public feeling.

Cllr Sutton added: 'We know only too well how decisions can be overturned by outside bodies. That happened recently with the King Street development and it is important that doesn't happen at Byley.'

Middlewich Town and Congleton Borough councils both opposed plans to build a housing estate on land off King Street, after archeologists unearthed a treasure trove of Roman artefacts.

But at a planning inquiry, a Government inspector ruled in favour of developers Fairclough Homes.

Protesters have vowed to fight on if ScottishPower appeals against the decision.

RAP Spokesman Dr John Edwards said: 'If ScottishPower does appeal, and I imagine it will, we will be ready.

'If it involves money to pay for things like expensive barristers, we will use our organisational skills to raise funds.'

A spokesman for ScottishPower said the company was still considering its position regarding an appeal.