TAG is one of the residents’ groups which make up the Protect Wyre Group (PWG), which was formed to oppose the Canatxx proposals to store gas in the salt beds under and adjacent to the Wyre Estuary.
We have successfully seen off three applications and are now faced with a fourth. Canatxx, rebranded as Halite Energy, intend to submit this application to the Infrastructure Planning Committee, thus bypassing LCC, who are now only consultees.
Halite must consult with the local community. In December 2010, PWG met with representatives of the Town and Parish Councils of Fleetwood, Stalmine, Hambleton and Preesall, together with representatives of our 3 local MPs, and agreed to work together to examine the new Halite proposals which were due in January. We wrote to Michael Brown at Halite suggesting that this group could form the Community Liaison Group (CLG) which was being put forward by Halite as a way of engaging with the community.
The details of the proposals were delayed and are now expected on the 4th April. Halite ignored the suggestions for the CLG and instead have appointed an Independent Facilitator, Claire Senior to organise the CLG. Ms Senior than sent out invitations to a list of 10 people supplied by Halite – representatives of Preesall, Fleetwood, Stalmine, Pilling and Out Rawcliffe, Town and Parish Councils, the Youth Mayor, 3 individuals and Ian Mulroy, Chair of PWG. There would be up to 5 Halite members. Pilling and Out Rawcliffe had already said that they were not involved and Hambleton, which was, was not invited. The three individuals just happen to have spoken in favour of the 3rd Canatxx proposals at the LCC Development Committee in January 2010, where they revealed that they understood little of the proposals and the geological and safety technicalities.
When PWG and the Councils asked for a meeting with the Independent Facilitator, that was refused with the suggestion that details of the composition of the CLG and its terms of reference could be agreed at its first meeting. Given that Halite and its supporters would have a majority on the CLG, there was little likelihood of that happening. Consequently, Ian Mulroy has declined to take part in the CLG and has advised the Town and Parish Council representatives. Instead, the group set up in December intend to examine in detail the proposals due in April, convene a meeting to discuss them and then to call for a meeting with Halite so that experts from both sides can have a meaningful dialogue.
In the meantime PWG has obtained a copy of the Atkins Consultants Report to the LCC on the geology, relating to the 3rd Canatxx proposal. This is a damning indictment and it is difficult to see how Halite could ever overcome the geological difficulties as set out by Atkins. Canatxx even claimed that their proposals were supported by the HSE, which as Atkins shows was completely false.
Watch this space for further updates
Howard Phillips Chair TAG