WAS CAMPAIGN A WASTE OF TIME?

And in a severe blow to protesters, previous objections will not be considered, so any campaign against the proposals will have to start from scratch.

Clay Services Ltd, acting on behalf of Kinderton Developments Ltd, part of the Banks Group, has confirmed that it will be presenting an application to Cheshire County Council this week and said it is most likely to be submitted today.

An application was submitted in April 2003 but withdrawn last month as the developer said it decided to make changes.

In the new application the proposals for Cledford Lagoons have been removed and restoration proposals have been revised.

Leaflets will be sent out to residents and a liaison committee set up to discuss issues of concern.

Members of Middlewich Against Dumping (MAD) and Councils Against Dumping (CAD) were furious when the group withdrew its application, rendering all their protests, letters and petitions of objection null and void, as the county council would not consider them in respect of any new application.

But they say they will be ready to fight the new application.

Chalky White, Middlewich town councillor, MAD and CAD member, said there would be more public meetings and petitions in a bid to stop the landfill site being approved.

He said: "Rest assured that MAD along with town council and surrounding parish councils will be doing everything they can to stop this unwanted, unnecessary and insulting proposal.

"We will have everything we had before and more.Middlewich Mayor Alison Roylance-White said: "What we have to do now as a town council is get a copy of the application and go through it bit by bit.

"There is no way we should have a clay extraction and a landfill so close to the town for all the reasons we have gone through in the past."

Clr White added that they need as many volunteers to help with the campaign and anyone wishing to get involved can ring him on 07768 934583 or visit the website www.cadonline.org.uk.