PROTESTERS look set to have won their two-year battle to save the countryside in Little Leigh.

Vale Royal Borough Council has recommended NOT to grant planning permission for a turkey farm and bungalow on land off Runcorn Road.

The council's planning committee was due to meet as the Guardian went to press last night - and councillors were expected to officially reject the proposal.

Feathers have been flying in the village for over two years since the first application was made by British United Turkeys (BUT).

Liam Byrne, a spokesman for Little Leigh and District Residents and Countryside Protection Campaign, has welcomed the news that the council is against the plan - because it is in green belt land.

"This is a welcome relief to everyone in Little Leigh.

"I know that many were really worried that BUT, as part of a wealthy multinational corporation, would get their way this time.

"The application has minor modifications from the one that the council originally refused because it has mounding to try and conceal the buildings. But this is even worse because the countryside is flat, open ground.

"The fact that the council received nearly 600 letters of objection underlined the extent of the opposition.

"We are very grateful to all in the village and from surrounding areas who supported our campaign. Our particular thanks to Martin Bell MP, who visited Little Leigh and lobbied on our behalf.

"Our hope now is that BUT have finally got the message and will leave Little Leigh in peace.

"They owe it to the local communities to rethink their strategy of building what in effect are industrial buildings on open agricultural land.

"The countryside in Cheshire is too rare and precious. People like us will fight to the bitter end to safeguard it."

A director of BUT, Geoff Pagett, refused to comment on whether the company would appeal against the decision.

"We are not surprised, not too disappointed, but not despondent," he said.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.