CREWE campaigners battling to prevent a huge landfill dump on their doorsteps have won a public inquiry into the matter.

The contentious plans proposed by Waste Recycling Group Ltd would see a waste site built on the Clayhanger site at Haslington.

Plans for the facility, which protesters have branded a 'revolting plateau of filth', were approved by county councillors in February but sent to the Secretary of State for a final verdict.

The Deputy Prime Minister's office last week ordered an open public inquiry into the issue, expected to take place later this year.

Campaigner Lee Allen welcomed the decision, saying: "We are delighted that we have an inquiry for the Clayhanger landfill site.

"Now all the evidence that we and expert consultants have found against this application will be properly considered.

"The prevarications, half truths and obstructions put in our way by County Hall will now all be aired publicly and we are confident that with such a strong case against this application we can now win."

The scheme, which is intended as a direct replacement for an existing facility at nearby Maw Green, involves the extraction of clay to provide a landfill facility for municipal and trade waste.

The £25million recycling facilities will allow the extraction of some two million cubic metres of clay from the site, which would then be restored by the 'landfilling' of some 3.2 million tonnes of household rubbish.

But residents are furious about the potential impact of pollution and traffic problems on the community and the plans have generated more than 2,000 letters of protest against the project.

Borough and parish councillor John Hammond said: "This is excellent news because it means that all aspects of this scheme will be examined in detail.

"I still feel that we have a very strong case and have a good chance of winning.

"It is really down to the efforts of the action group, who have done a fantastic job over the past three years, that we are in this position."