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Date set for new Canatxx plans
WE'RE back – and we want you on our side.
That's the message from bosses at energy firm Canatxx who are just three months away from submitting a new application to provide 20 per cent of the UK's gas storage capacity in Wyre.
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But opponents of the scheme, who fear the site could prompt a gas explosion, or be the subject of a terrorist attack have pledged to fight on.
Canatxx plan rejected
They collected 11,000 objections to the plan ahead of a public inquiry last October.
And local MP Ben Wallace today asked: "What part of 'no' don't they
understand?"
The firm's new planning application, revealed exclusively by The Gazette earlier this month, is set to be submitted by September – and the 300m scheme could be up and running in Preesall as soon as 2011.
Canatxx says it will NOT make major changes to the design of underground salt caverns where 1.2 million tonnes of natural gas will be stored, instead adding a 'significant amount of science' to its planning application.
To read the last full planning report click here - reproduced courtesy of the planning inspectorate
Chief executive Paul Grimes today pledged to:
Stick to strict new Health and Safety Executive guidelines on salt cavern gas storage.
Answer questions about safety raised at the last public inquiry - including new research to allay fears over leaks and cavern collapse cited as key reasons for blocking the plans.
Preserve and invest in the local environment and scale down the above-ground aspects of the site.
Give local firms, large and small, the opportunity to benefit from the work.
Give most of the 35 jobs at the site to locals.
Mr Grimes said: "The science of developing gas storage caverns is well known. Modern standards have been developed over many years.
"When we had the original inquiry the guidelines for risk assessment on underground gas storage caverns were ambiguous. The guidelines that exist now are very clear and applicable to everyone in the UK."
Guidelines
And he added: "The Health and Safety Executive will be part of the project. They have risk assessment guidelines that didn't exist when we made our original application. New guidelines for assessing the salt body were published earlier this year.
"The original application contained good science. We will be adding to that science to answer some of those questions raised at the inquiry.
"Questions were raised at the inquiry relating to safety, cavern collapse, the effect of old workings on the proposal.
"Our application will address all those concerns."
And bosses admit they made a major error in not making the plans clearer to the local community.
"Yes, I made that decision and it was a big mistake," added Mr Grimes – and he has pledged not to repeat the error.
The firm's charm offensive begins this week with the delivery of a letter to homes across Wyre informing people of the new plans.
A new website will be launched featuring details of the scheme and an exhibition will be held later this year.
Asked if he thought the firm could win over locals, Mr Grimes added: "I hope so and we will certainly try. Last time around we didn't do a good job of working with the local population. This time we're going to reach out."
And Mr Grimes hopes the new application will convince Lancashire County Council of the safety of the scheme and avoid a new inquiry.
But Wyre MP Ben Wallace said: "I have asked Canatxx to desist. Which part of 'no' don't they understand?"
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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