A KNIFE-EDGE vote has killed off plans for a gas-fired power plant at Old Hutton near Kendal for the second time this year.

After hours of passionate argument from more than 30 local residents, South Lakeland District Council’s planning committee was locked five votes in favour and five against with one abstention.

In a dramatic twist, chairman Pete McSweeney (Lib Dem, Arnside and Milnthorpe) used his casting vote to sink the plan by London-based applicants, Statera Energy.

Mr McSweeney told the meeting: “The expectation has been that as chairman of the planning committee I would vote with our officers. We checked the council constitution yesterday and that is not the case. I do have a free vote and I will vote against.”

The decision sparked cheers and shouts of “yes” from the public gallery with a round of applause breaking out.

Chris Nelson, chairman of Old Hutton Action Group, said: “We’re ecstatic. It was a nail-biting finish and we are hugely grateful to the council for supporting us in our opposition.”

Objector Kate Waddington had told the committee that not all of the 600-plus written objections would count as “material planning considerations”.

But she said: “You are our elected representatives and you are our voice. We ask you to find a way to reject this application which is riddled with assumptions, errors and contradictions.”

The ruling goes against the council planning officer’s recommendation to grant the development. Not a single statutory consultee raised any objection to the plant, planned for a 3.9-hectare field and near the local school.

The council’s solicitor Anthea Lowe had warned the committee that the council could face a costly appeal if its refusal did not stack up.

She said: “If we were to lose an appeal I have to give this warning, and I know it might be unpalatable for members of the public to hear it, but we could be facing a costs award of upwards of £50,000 of taxpayers’ money.”

Carl Crompton, a director of Gilkes in Kendal, spoke in favour of the plant. He said: “Some of the objections claim there are no benefits to local people but this simply isn’t true, if the project goes ahead we have agreed a contract to provide a range of services which will directly support local jobs.”

Mr Nelson added that the applicants could appeal or come back with a revised scheme and residents would unite again.

He said: “We will continue to oppose this in any of its forms.”