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Update - CANATXX
Third application turned down by Lancashire
Canatxx became interested in developing the Wyre Estuary for gas infrastructure as far back as 1992 when Wyre BC approved its plans to build a gas fired power station on the Hillhouse site. When that proposal fell through, Canatxx turned its attention to the salt bed which lies 300m below the surface between Preesall and Fleetwood. The storage of natural gas in caverns washed out from the salt is a proven technology.
In November 2003, Canatxx submitted its first application for underground gas storage but the failure of Lancashire CC to decide the application within the required time, led to Canatxx seeking a Public Inquiry. Before this could take place, a second application was made in November 2004, which became the subject of the Inquiry, which took place between October 2005 and May 2006. In October 2007, the Secretary of State, agreeing with the Planning Inspector and the Geological Assessor, refused the Canatxx appeal.
In November 2008, Canatxx submitted a third application, which differs little from the first two, except the area under which it is proposed to wash out the caverns now extends as far as the western shore of the River Wyre and the number of caverns has increased from 20 to 36. 8,800 people wrote letters of objection compared with 107 letters of support. These were mainly from companies, many located outside the north-west of England.
An 80 page objection was submitted by the Protect Wyre Group, which is an umbrella organisation of residents’ groups including Thornton Action Group. At the meeting of the Development Committee on the 25th January 2010, presentations against the proposal were made by our MPs, Ben Wallace and Joan Humble, by Fleetwood Town Council, June Jackson and PWG. Canatxx responded with its own presentation.
The following day the members of the Committee visited the site area. On January 27th they met again and voted by a majority of 13 to 1 to refuse the application.
We wait to see what Canatxx does now. The lawyer presenting the case on behalf of Canatxx threatened the Committee that Canatxx would ask for another Public Inquiry, which he claimed Canatxx would win and then sue Lancashire for millions in costs. Canatxx could of course put in a fourth application and residents would have to object again – for a fourth time. And PWG, which has been fundamental in making sure that the concerns of the residents are heard, would need to do it all again.
But if Canatxx were to be given approval, the underground gas storage would not be the end of its plans to industrialise the eastern shore of the Wyre Estuary. Already it has planning permission for a terminal for LNG tankers off Anglesey. The liquefied gas would be piped across the Irish Sea and than re-gasified in a huge industrial plant in the Preesall area before being stored in the caverns. Why let this happen when at the moment a very large UGS facility is being built under the Irish Sea beyond Barrow – the Gateway Project? Check it out on the web.
Howard Phillips Vice Chair PWG - Chair Thornton Action Group
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