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Underground gas storage facility in Lancashire set to be stopped at planning stage
Monday, February 08, 2010
A huge gas storage scheme in Lancashire was set this week to be refused planning permission for a second time.
Lancashire County Council was expected to reject the project on safety grounds as well as concern about the visual impact of the development associated with an underground gas storage facility near the eastern bank of the Wyre River.
Canatxx wants to connect the facility to a liquefied natural gas unloading and regasification terminal in Amlwch, Anglesey, which already has consent.
The Preesall gas storage facility would involve the creation by "solution mining" (brining) of up to 36 new caverns in virgin salt deposits around the estuary about 300 to 400 metres below the surface to accommodate 360 million cubic metres of gas.
Lancashire county officials recommended the scheme be refused. Councillors were expected to agree when they decided the application on Wednesday, after Utility Week went to press.
Officials said the scale of the development - 5 sq km - would be detrimental to the open character of the countryside. The assessment also criticised the applicants for failing to demonstrate that the development "would not present an unacceptable risk of gas migration".
An earlier scheme was turned down on appeal in 2007.
This story was featured on the Utility News website.
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