AROUND 700 jobs have been brought a step closer to safety, after the Government decided to allow planning permission for a Cheshire factory to stand.

The Secretary ofŠState for Communities and Local Government, John Denham, decided against calling in the decision of Cheshire West and Chester Council to award planning permission toŠQuinn Glass LtdŠ to develop its factory Šat Elton.

Council leader MikeŠJones said it was a “a victory for sound commonsense.“ He said: “It Šis Šwelcome vindication of this authority’s beliefŠ that it was entitled to the jurisdiction to determine this application.”

The planning permission for the Quinn Glass factory is subject to an agreement signed by the company which obliges it toŠ deliver environmental enhancements including, a railhead into the plant to take traffic Šoff the Šroads, a noise mound and acousticŠ barrier, and a pledge to buy green electricity.

The council said it will now move towards issuing a formal planning permission and will separately consider issues relating to theŠ enforcementŠ notice served on the instruction of the High Court.

Earlier this year, a High Court ruling endorsed the council decision to determine the Quinn Glass Ltd application, but competitor Ardagh Glass Ltd is seeking to overturn that ruling in the Court of Appeal.

Adrian Curry, director from Quinn Glass, commented: “This is great news for Quinn Glass.

“We are also extremely grateful for the continued support and hard work of our 700-strong Elton workforce as well as the loyalty shown by our customers, suppliers and the local community – all of whom have contributed to the huge ongoing success of the operation.”