Local campaigner Trish Marchant said “Its fantastic news for us, but it’s a small victory. We in Medway will be sending our support to the next local group who take on the fight” In a heavy blow to the government’s plans to promote energy from coal, the German company have said they will not pursue the new plant in the UK until at least 2012.

Jane Harris, a local KCAM campaigner said “This is a step in the right direction, it shows that people really do have the power to challenge the government and corporations. However, according to UN figures climate change is currently responsible for 300,000 deaths per year. We need to seriously rethink any plans to use new coal, we need to be focusing on renewable green energy”.

Should the project have gone ahead, the coal units would have been be the first to be built for more than 20 years.

Dave Davidson, a resident of the peninsula said “I’m cautious about Eons real agenda. Are they trying to apply pressure to Ed Milliband to make a decision or are we really seeing the change we have been working for. I hope for the future of our planet that it’s the latter.”

Jill Osborne of Tipping Point said “Its been amazing working alongside such committed locals. The people of Medway certainly know how to mount a resistance. This victory will be a huge inspiration to climate change campaigners across the world.”