CAMPAIGNERS are 'outraged' at claims that a company seeking to build a £70million gas plant in Byley has been trying to lobby senior Government ministers for support.

ScottishPower's plans to build the plant, which were strongly opposed by campaign group Residents Against the Plant (RAP), were rejected by Cheshire County Council in 2002 and are currently subject to a public inquiry.

The company has refused to comment on allegations reported in the April 13 edition of the national Guardian newspaper that it was trying to enlist the support of senior cabinet ministers to overcome local resistance to its plans.

A ScottishPower spokesman refused to comment and only confirmed that it is waiting for the outcome of the public inquiry, which is due to be announced imminently. Members of RAP have fought hard against the proposals and John Halstead, chairman of the group, said: "If ScottishPower really is trying to lobby ministers this is grossly unfair, since a full and proper public inquiry on the gas plant was held at Cheshire County Hall in December 2002.

"The public inquiry was the definitive, fair opportunity for everyone to have their say and a report on the inquiry findings was written by Robert Lyon, the inquiry chairman, and sent to John Prescott and Patricia Hewitt, of the Department of Trade and Industry, for the final decision.

"We await their decision and are outraged at the possibility that anybody might seek unfairly to influence ministers.

"We have therefore written to John Prescott, asking whether or not he, or other ministers, have been approached by ScottishPower, and asking that RAP should be given equal opportunity to make its case if ScottishPower has been given a hearing.

"We shall pursue this matter with vigour and our friends in Councils Against the Plant - 21 local Parish and Town Councils united against the gas plant - are also writing to John Prescott, just as we have done.'