AN appeal has been lodged against a Cheshire County Council decision to turn down a controversial application for a rubbish handling business in Marston.

In February residents celebrated victory after the county council's planning committee threw out proposals for a waste transfer station in the village and planning chiefs condemned the application in their report.

The applicant, which put forward the proposal last year, had hoped to process household, commercial and industrial waste at the plant, earmarked for land off Ollershaw Lane behind the Salt Barge pub.

The application was met with fierce objections from residents who were praised by Clr Malcolm Byram, county and borough councillor for the village, for the considered manner in which they conducted their campaign.

Committee members followed the recommendation of Alan Thornley, county planning officer, who said the applicant had not proved the need for the development and he also agreed with residents' concerns that an increase in heavy goods traffic along Ollershaw Lane would be too much for the road to handle.

But a Cheshire County Council spokesman confirmed an appeal against the decision had been lodged with the Planning Inspectorate earlier this month and the council had been asked to prepare a statement of evidence.

He said: "I can confirm that an appeal has been lodged against the decision. We received a letter from the Planning Inspectorate on May 22 and we have to provide a statement of evidence by July 3."

Once the Planning Inspectorate has received statements from both the appellant and county council on the matter , a date will be set for a hearing.