QUINN GLASS has won a protracted battle over its right to continue production at a plant near Chester in England.

John Denham, UK secretary of state for the department for communities and local government, yesterday ruled the local authority could allow continued production.

The case arose after rival glass producer Ardagh Glass pressed to have the plant closed on the basis that Quinn did not have full planning permission for the facility at Elton, Cheshire. As a result of the move by Ardagh, English local authority Cheshire West and Chester Council served an enforcement notice on Quinn Glass that required the demolition of the factory within 18 months.

Quinn challenged the order and lodged an appeal, leading to yesterday’s announcement.

Welcoming the decision, Adrian Curry, director of Quinn, said: “We hope that Ardagh Glass, who have vociferously challenged the existence of the Elton plant for the past five years, will now follow our initiative by investing in new, efficient technology, with improved environmental standards, which will allow proper competition in the market.” Labour MP Andrew Miller said; “This saga... has taken far too long to resolve and I hope that other companies will now realise that the way to compete is by investing in British jobs and not by employing spoiling tactics in the court room.”

Ardagh Glass is still seeking to overturn an earlier ruling in the Court of Appeal.