HALITE ENERGY intends to store a minimum working capacity of 130 million cubic metres of gas underground in 19 purpose-built salt caverns in Preesall and Knott End. The project had been previously refused over a thirteen year period by Lancashire County Council, Wyre Borough Council, as well as by two previous Secretaries of State. The last refusal was on the grounds that Halite had failed to demonstrate the suitability of the geology or provide convincing evidence of the size of the project. Despite this and united opposition from the local community, the scheme was given the go-ahead on 17th July 2015 by Lord Bourne on behalf of the then Secretary of State. It was passed due to the fact it was a "nationally significant" project. This decision took place behind closed doors on the last day of parliament. In October 2016 there was another decision taken in Westminster to allow fracking at Preston New Road in Lancashire approximately 14 km away - again against the recommendation of Lancashire County Council and the wishes of local people. These two industrial developments so close together caused great concern due to the risk of tremors from fracking and the fact that the gas storage is to be sited in an area of land that is still subsiding in places after old salt mining and brine extraction. It is now 2020 and Halite are due to 'start' the project just as the five-deadline is approaching and they would lose their permission. This project has been hanging over the local population for too long. #NoGasStorage Why is this a problem?
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