'˜Wonderful and determined' activist and former Stalmine councillor dies after short illness

A popular community campaigner, activist and former parish councillor has died.
June Jackson was a determined anti-gas storage campaignerJune Jackson was a determined anti-gas storage campaigner
June Jackson was a determined anti-gas storage campaigner

June Jackson, 68, died at Blackpool Victoria Hospital on Wednesday night following a short illness.

The grandma-of-three, who owned D S Jackson Farm in Stalmine with her husband Darrell, was the former chairman of her local parish council and was known for her role in the fight against Halite’s underground gas storage plans in Preesall.

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Darrell, also 68, said: “She used to get involved in everything to help people. When she get her head into something she was like a terrier dog. She wouldn’t let go.

“She was a very kind woman. But she never suffered fools.”

Mrs Jackson retired from Stalmine Parish Council in June 2017. She was an active member of the Wyre Flood Forum.

She was taken to hospital with pneumonia on January 3 following a winter cold.

Tests later revealed signs of breast cancer that had spread to her lungs.

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Stalmine Parish Council chairman Debra Forshaw said: “She was amazing and very knowledgable. She was an absolutely committed and dedicated parish member and a great member of the community.”

Mrs Jackson was a leading campaigner against the controversial gas storage plans for Wyre.

Halite Energy aims to carve out 19 salt caverns near Preesall and store up to 900 million cubic metres of gas to add 20 per cent to the national storage capacity.

In 2013, the firm was blocked by the Department of Energy and Climate Change. However, in 2015, it was given permission from Government to go ahead with the plans.

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Speaking at the time, Mrs Jackson said: “They talk about having support from 129 letters but there were 11,000 against. Few of these companies supporting Halite are from the local area.”

Keith Riley, a former Fleetwood councillor who joined forces with June to create the Fleetwood Museum Trust in 2006 to save the building from closure, said: “She was wonderful and very determined.

“The museum wouldn’t be open today without the efforts of June and myself. She was very well informed, very diligent and very determined. A wonderful character.”

Mrs Jackson’s funeral will take place at a date to be announced.