CONTROVERSIAL plans for a 59-hectare rubbish dump in the Middlewich countryside will go to a public inquiry.

Campaigners are celebrating what they see as another 'bite at the cherry' after landfill plans for Kinderton Lodge were called in by the Secretary of State.

The dump had been approved by Cheshire County Council's development regulatory committee (DRC) in February - much to the dismay of protesters who have fought the development for seven years.

County councillor Mark Dickson said: "We'll have a chance to present our case to the council and to the inspector and I'm delighted about that.

"Once again I'll be calling on everyone to support the campaign - we're still marching on and we still have a bite at the cherry - it's not over by any stretch of the imagination."

Clr Dickson said the inquiry would give protesters the chance to present information about the proximity of flight paths to the site, which they only discovered days before the DRC was due to make its decision.

He also stressed the strength of feeling expressed by residents had helped the campaign so far.

He said: "Huge thanks to everyone who's been involved and signed a number of petitions over the past years - it's done the job.

"Clearly one of the things that's certainly helped is that level of public feeling."

Andy Bailey and Mike Hunter, spokesmen for CW10residents group, said: "CW10 are absolutely delighted that the application for the Kinderton Lodge landfill site has been called in by the Secretary of State and we feel it is just reward for all those people who signed our petitions and sent in objection letters.

"But we need to ensure that all avenues are covered and presented to this independent inspector to prove once and for all that this application is unsafe and should be refused."

Clr Dickson said the inquiry could take place at the end of the year, but a definite date is yet to be confirmed.

Plans for an alternative site at Clayhanger, near Crewe, will also go to public inquiry.