Leader to face tough question on cavern plan

Last year, the government’s e nergy minister Lord Bourne – on appeal – granted permission to Halite to create a huge underground gas store in salt caverns at Preesall despite three rejections of the plan and massive public opposition.

Leader of the opposition at Wyre Council, Coun Ruth Duffy, is now set to formally ask council leader Coun Peter Gibson for his views on what residents should do.

In a question that will be put to Coun Gibson at a full council meeting due to be held on Thursday, she asked: “Could the leader of the council give his opinion on whether or not the value of local residents’ homes are likely to plummet once Halite move into the area?

“If he does think this is likely, would he advise that residents sell up now before Halite move onto the site, or that they wait until after the Halite HGVs start rumbling past their homes?”

Halite has permission to store up to 900 million cubic metres of gas in 19 salt caverns under the Wyre near Preesall.