A group of protestors against plans for a 1,000-megawatt gas power station have formed an action group.
Villagers' Voice Staffordshire Moorlands (VVSM) will represent residents in Cresswell and other nearby villages after plans for the £400m development revealed by Blythe Park Power.
 
The body will co-ordinate the campaign against the development on land adjacent to the Blythe Park industrial estate and keep residents informed of the latest news.
 
Jacquie Leach, Campaign Manager of VVSM, said: "The name reflects the fact that we're not just standing up for people in Cresswell, but for the villages of Draycott, Blythe Blythe and the rest of the Staffordshire Moorlands in opposing this development.
 
Mrs Leach, who lives in Sandon Road, said: "It gives us as local residents a voice against the proposals and the chance to make sure we're united in our opposition.
 
VVSM chairman Darren Tranter said: "We are currently working on a response to the plans by the developer which we plan to discuss with representatives of the district council the county council and the government agency responsible. It’s our intention to work closely with all parties so that we continue to deliver forthright and united opposition to this proposal."
 
"We're against it because of the size and scale of the power station and its impact on the local area, such as roads, ecology and noise levels. There is a mass of concerns even before you get into the details of the application.
 
"Then there's the impact on local property to consider.
 
"We're delighted that the district and county council are supporting our campaign.
 
Mr Tranter, who lives 200 metres away from the site of the proposed development said: "We also plan to sit down and work with other groups elsewhere in the country affected by similar plans so that we can share information on who to fight against this development."
 
 
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT the VVSM campaign team at vvsm@hotmail.co.uk
 
NOTES TO EDITORS:The proposals involve creating a 1,000 megawatt plant near to the Blythe Park industrial park, in Sandon Road, with chimneys up to 55 metres tall, almost the height of Nelson's Column.The combined cycle gas turbine power station would take an estimated three years to build and involve between 200 and 1,000 people during its constructionThe finished station is expected to provide up to 50 skilled and 20 to 30 "less skilled" jobs, with an additional 150 maintenance workers.The site is designated by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council as a Special Landscape AreaThe developer will make an application under section 36 of the 1989 Electricity Act