AN MP has joined the fight against proposals to build an energy from waste plant in Lostock.

Eddisbury MP Stephen O'Brien has released an official statement confirming his opposition against the plans, which are due to be submitted by WRG waste energy group in January.

He said: "I believe the proposal for incinerators in Cheshire, including the one at Lostock Gralam, are unjustified, environmentally unsound and a solution rooted in the past rather than the future."

Meanwhile Cheshire Anti-Incinerator Network's (CHAIN) petition campaign is gathering speed.

CHAIN secretary Jonathan Guy confirmed that more than 6,000 signatures have been collected in the four weeks since the organisation held a packed-out public meeting at the Memorial Hall. A further 20,000 forms have been distributed and Jonathan hopes these will be returned soon.

He said: "They have just been flooding it but we are urging everyone to get their signature added as soon as possible so that when WRG submit the application, we will be ready."

Mr O'Brien's statement in full

"As with the application for an incinerator at Ince, on behalf of my constituents I object to the proposal to build an incinerator at Lostock Gralam.

"Building on the experience of working with my constituents on the border with Wales in which we were ultimately successful to thwart the plans for an incinerator some years ago on the Wrexham Industrial Estate, I believe the proposal for incinerators in Cheshire, including the one at Lostock Gralam are unjustified, environmentally unsound, a solution rooted in the past rather than the future, and whose economics will require pulling waste from well beyond Cheshire thus breaching the fundamental rule of only providing local solutions for local waste.

"Cheshire already plays its part, regionally and internationally, with the industrial toxic waste dump in the worked out area of Winsford Rock Salt Mine in my constituency, permitted by this Labour Government's John Prescott, despite years of campaigns by me and my constituents against.

"I shall continue to support the battle against these applications."