Here The Gazette brings you regular updates from the meeting as it unfolds and you can also leave your comments below.

2:25pm: First to speak at the meeting was Stuart Perigo, planning officer for Lancashire County Council, who visited the site in Preesall yesterday.
His slide show gave details of the buildings to be constructed for the storage unit, which is capable of holding 1.2m tonnes of gas.
This included a water pump station, four metres in height, Northern and Southern pump stations, all located near the Sportsmans Caravan Park.
These would pump brine into the Irish Sea, and would be around 7.3m in height.
The entire Cannatx storage unit would take 10 years to build.

2:37pm: Mr Perigo then read out objections the Council has received from MPs, residents and and Fleetwood Town Council.
The council has received 8,740 objections and further 15 this week, with particular concerns about an increase HGV movements, the landscape being unsuitable, the adverse impact on wildlife, a possible catastrophic effect if a gas explosion occurred, the effects on tourism and the risk of flooding.
Ben Wallace, MP for Lancaster and Wyre, wrote to Lancashire County Council ahead of today's County Hall meeting.
He said: "The applicant has little experience in proposing a scheme of this scale and has sought to deliver an outcome to it via a political route rather than a planning route."

2:45pm: The Council also received 101 letters of support from professional businesses, mainly outside the Wyre area, claiming that the unit will improve the economy, and there is a need for gas storage.
Employment opportunities will be created, and the environmental improvements will have a positive impact.

2:55pm: Mr Perigo then proposed that councillors did not approve the application.
The geological impact was not counterbalanced by the national need for gas storage.
He said: "I do not feel the applicant has proved that the geology of the area is capable of maintaining 1.2m tonnes of gas.
"The application should be refused, because of the fear it would cause, and the impact on the landscape.
"The locations of the caverns have not been identified and the applicant has not provided any additional information to the last application, which was rejected.
"There are particular concerns for the east side of the estuary, which cannot support the cavernsas migration, with the risk of gas migration, and there would be particular harm to the natural environment."

3:02pm: Other objections came from councillor Clive Grimshaw, he said: "The fear and distress this storage unit will cause is the crucial cause for concern.
"It will be a ticking time bomb and people will have to live with this.
"There has been a total lack of ability of Canatxx to address these concerns. Therefore I urge you to reject the plan.

3:15pm: June Jackson, school governor and local farmer, said: "If this is passed it will affect more than 100,000 people because the Burn Naze fault runs from Fleetwood to Blackpool and this could offer and escape route for the gas to explode.

3:25pm: Ian Williams from Canatxx spoke on behalf of the company, he said: "I have an inside take on how Canatxx really works.
"If this is given the green light I will be looking at the contracts and I will at first look in Over Wyre and Wyre.
"If that fails I will employ people from Blackpool and Preston.
"People think that Canatxx is a faceless American company, but many of us are from the North West and Lancashire.
"Secondly, I will speak on behalf of the often forgotten elderly. Gas storage means cheaper gas and electricity. So don't listen to the misinformed local minority and show some moral leadership by saying yes to Canatxx."

3.40pm Fred Smith, who owns a business in Preston, spoke in support of the plans.
He said: "This year we had our gas cut off, along with many other businesses, and by 2020 80 per cent of our gas will be imported. We need to support local gas storage."
David Evans, a "Fylde resident of 50-years", added: "The planning committee has recommended a refusal on the grounds of health and saefty, but the Health and Safety Executive has listed no objection on the grounds of safety.
"Are the planning committee more qualified to decide on the safety of the proposals than the HSE?
"The nation needs local gas storage."

3.55pm: Fylde Councillor Paul Hayhurst said: "We have to listen to our experts. They have recommended we reject this application.
"I am amazed we have not heard from Canatxx to placate residents' fears.
"The fear surrounding the Abbeystead disaster is still very real and lives on."

4.10pm: County councillor William Cropper, who represents West Lancashire West, said: "There are far too many fears that haven't been addressed and the Wyre Estuary is a popular leisure spot.
"I'm also surprised a marine society has not opposed the dumnping of so much salt in the Irish Sea."


4.20pm: Canatxx defeated - 13 councillors voted to turn down Canatxx's planning application. One voted in favour.



The story so far:



>> Battlelines drawn for Canatxx finale

>> Canatxx gas bid set for rejection

>> Canatxx pledges to continue fight

>> Canatxx: One last roar of defiance

>> Union backs Canatxx proposal

>> Canatxx gas plans rejected

>> Canatxx back with new plan