Our coastline has significant conservation interest with many protected areas, some of which came into force or were extended after permission for Halite’s gas storage project was granted in 2015. These include the Liverpool Bay  Special Protection Area, the Shell Flat and Lune Deep Special Area of Conservation and the Wyre Lune Marine Conservation Zone.

Since the permission for the brine discharge was given in 2007, the coastline from Rossall to Cleveleys has also benefited from the new sea defence which was completed in the summer of 2018. 

Photos taken on regular walks with my family show how the coastline has changed since the new sea defences were completed.

As a regular walkers down at Rossall where the dispersal outlet will be placed at a point of 2.3KM out to sea, we have seen how the coastline levels have changed considerably in a short time. 

The new rock boulder groynes have become buried by pebbles and shifting sands in places. There is also the new ‘island’ forming out at Kings Scar. This coupled with the lack of dredging leads me to question the accuracy of the dispersal modelling submitted in the initial application, so many years ago.

By Halite’s own admission the discharge of 80,000m3 of hyper saline brine every day for up to 10 years will lead to a ‘dead’ zone killing off marine life which is unlucky enough to cross its path.  This will have a devastating effect on our diverse marine life. At a time when the government has recognized the need for enhanced protection for our seas and is considering Highly Protected Marine Areas, it seems unconceivable that this project could go ahead.

The Environmental Agency have now refused an extension to the water abstraction licence (No NW/072/0400/001) that expired on the 17th July 2020.  This licence would have allowed them to pump up to 80,000 cubic meters of water a day from Fleetwood Dock.  However, the dock is silting up at an alarming rate and it is questionable whether this is still a feasible water source.

There are many other concerns about this project including, the suitability of the geology of the area for the proposed caverns, the amount of traffic construction it will generate on narrow country roads, there are more residential properties on both sides of the estuary and the consequences of a cavern collapse resulting in a gas explosion does not bear thinking about.

We must protect our local marine life and environment from this disaster.
​
Blog by Fran, a local resident, Thornton

Photographs below show the level of sand and stones slowly rising over time on the steps to the beach. 

At Easter time we are down the rabbit hole with NPL/ Halite ..........

At the recent community liaison panel meeting members were told that NPL was funding activities to get the underground gas storage project started in the hope that an investor will sign on the dotted line once the Development Consent Order (DCO) requirements are fully met.

This should mean amongst other things: building a short section of access road from the A588 to Back Lane in Preesall to make sure the planning permission stays live, submitting the final documents on noise, dust, drainage to Wyre Council and getting those boxes ticked before the end of July, then doing the missing monitoring and tests on the marine environment, finalising the marine monitoring requirements, and getting the cavern designs passed. If all goes to plan then NPL anticipate gas in the caverns in 6 years. 

Road to nowhere?

Although there should presumably be no problem to build a short piece of single lane track through a field after 18 years of preparation (to be fair mostly not done by NPL), this action should keep the permission live. It does little to solve the problems down the line with tunneling under the hard marl surface of the sea bed to lay pipework for brine discharge, keeping to agreed salinity levels which all the local experts say will be nigh on impossible (risking the Environment Agency pulling the plug to investigate), or indeed solving problems that were brought up by the previous MD of Halite, Keith Budinger, in keeping to the noise restrictions in the DCO. Mr Budinger had hoped to solve those issues by sending those residents affected on a cruise. That may not be such an attractive offer now....

It also does not address the fact that investors should surely see a time-limit on gas storage in the current environment. Surely? It will take 6 years to build. Come on guys!

Money Money Money 

It may be a coincidence but as NPL was saying it aims to finance the start of the gas storage project, in March 2020 NPL Group (UK) Ltd allotted shares in its company to a value of £25,000,100 ( yes, that is £25 million folks and includes the £100 assets it had in its 2019 accounts submitted to Companies House). 

As of 5 April 2020 the three major shareholders were Mr McFarlane, Executive Chairman of the NPL Group, and Landco Three Limited and Landco Four Limited (two companies that Mr McFarlane is a Director of. They had £1,002 and £1,000 assets in their 2019 accounts submitted to Companies House). 

Shares can be allotted amongst other things to finance projects or raise capital. 

Around the same time NPL Developments Ltd was authorised to allot shares up to the value of £15,878,378 (again that is over £15 million plus the £100 assets on its accounts from 2019).

NPL Energy Holdings Ltd was authorised to allot shares up to the value of £1,689,189 (plus the £100 in assets recorded in its 2019 accounts to Companies House). 

Then in April 2020 NPL Group UK Ltd became the major shareholder of both NPL Developments Ltd and NPL Energy Holdings Ltd. 

Confused yet? 

We are and we are definitely not financial experts at all but it looks like NPL Group UK Ltd issued shares and raised funds which it partially used to buy shares in NPL Developments Ltd and NPL Energy Holdings Ltd. All of which are part of the same group of companies and none of which really had any assets on their books last year?

NB: We are not saying there is anything wrong with doing this, just that it is surprising to us mere mortals that this is possible and they obviously have a better credit rating than us:-)

At any rate there was over £25,000,000 in shares recently allotted for this group of companies of which £1,689,189 went to NPL Energy Holdings Ltd. This seems to be the department of the NPL Group that Halite Energy/ Cheshire Energy fits into. (memory jog - Halite Energy was bought out by Cheshire Energy which is a part of the NPL group). 

In short, they can afford to build a short stretch of road between the A588 and Back Lane (!) but after that? NPL don't seem to want to take on the whole project, which was estimated to cost £660 million. The question is, will other investors?

We wouldn't bet our pocket money on it. 

PS: Apologies in advance

Just to restate that we are local people and not financial experts and the world of £20 million pounds is completely foreign to us. We have tried to keep this post accurate, but there could be some information we have missed or misunderstood, particularly as the company group involved is made up of a lot of smaller companies. This article is our attempt to understand what is happening in our local villages with a project that nobody has wanted for 18 years and that just won't go away.....

PPS: Keeping everything crossed that other investors have more sense than money.

PPPS: We don't keep up with our blogs very often, but in the extremely unlikely event we have any comments and those comments are rude or offensive, they will be deleted. 

Claire 
#NoGasStorage 

​TIMELINE.   

C 1998 A gas fired power station is proposed for the old I.C.I site at Thornton by NPL, with storage possibilities for gas around the old salt workings on the other side of the river around Stalmine/Preesall.

C 2002  Texas energy company Canataxx proposes storing natural gas under the Wyre estuary in new, solution mined, caverns. Concern grew among the public as the proposed caverns would be constructed adjacent to, or among, I.C.I's old salt mines and bore holes. These concerns culminated in a public meeting at St Aidan's School, around August 2002, where Canataxx outlined their plan. Mumbled delivery often dismissive answers left more people leaving  alarmed, rather than placated.
​

​The consensus of concern by individuals and local organizations led to the formation of P.W.G: the Protect Wyre Group. From Fleetwood Civic Society,  Fleetwood Hotel and Guesthouse Assoc, Protect Rural Wyre Group, Thornton Action Group and many other individuals gave their time and /or expertise. 

Study of Canataxx's proposals revealed plans for storing 40 billion cu ft of gas at pressures 700-800 psi. (800psi is the tyre pressure of a Halifax heavy bomber in WW2.) The unlined caverns would hold the equivalent of 60 'gasometers,' usually seen at the edge of towns. It was proposed that the solution mined caverns would use an angled drilling technique previously untried in this sort of mining.

PWG started a publicity campaign, using leaflets for house windows and cars as well as mobilising a letter writing campaign that eventually sent approx 34,000 letters (c.12,000 on three occasions.) Each letter expressed individually voiced concerns about Canataxx's scheme, the main points briefly being :

SAFETY, due to insecure geology; ie the layered nature of the salt and presence of known fissures, (one of which runs under the village school,) the proximity of old mine workings and boreholes; contaminants e.g 50,000 tonnes of toxic mercury waste, dumped  over 26 years, in historic workings by I.C.I.  Dangers of extra traffic at construction and terrorist threat were concerns. Many also recalled the explosion at Abbeystead, where nothing more dangerous than water was being moved.

ENVIRONMENTAL damage, the proposal sits on a SSSI, loss of amenity due to footpath closure and loss of Rights of Way. This in an area well used by walkers, birders, dog walkers, shooters, locals and casual tourists.

NO PROVEN NEED for the facility.

Canataxx's ANONIMITY, therefore lack of accountability.

PWG also collected and evaluated information, before passing it on to the public, often via the 'Green Book' and dealt with the technical and legal side.
 
By January 2004, Lancashire County Council (LCC) were considering Canataxx's application. A Hazardous Substances Consent was also being considered from Canataxx.

During 2004, LCC refuse the application. The company appealed and by Nov 2004, LCC are notifying the public that Canataxx's appeal will be heard by Public Inquiry. The firm seemed to attempt to muddy the waters of the appeal by lodging a second application with LCC and by late submission of documents to the opening of the Inquiry.                       

26th Nov 2004.  Canataxx refuse to attend public meetings, stated in a reply to Hilton Dawson, M.P.  (Mr Dawson had queried the need for the second proposal.)

3rd Dec 2004 Hazardous Substance Consent refused by LCC.

10th  Dec 2004. Hilton Dawson states  : “I deplore this proposal....(which)...my constituents regard as dangerous and utterly inappropriate.”

Jan 2005.  LCC “...disappointed with some of Canataxx's responses.” (By letter to Hilton Dawson, M.P)

16th July 2005. Public Inquiry starts at Marine Hall, for both Canataxx's applications. Further Inquiry dates are announced for October, November, December and January, at North Euston Hotel. All dates are well attended by the public.  Inquiry findings expected by 19th October 2007. The Inquiry heard representation from all walks of life, bolstered by the technical expertise of many specific scientific fields.  Ben Wallace MP added his objection with knowledge of the North Sea gas fields. The protest movement has always had the support of our MPs, regardless of political party.

24th June 2008.  Canataxx mail drop letters to households. 
           
PUBLIC INQUIRY FINDS AGAINST CANATAXX
 
Canataxx challenge the decision on technicalities. LCC have to reconsider points and ask for public input.  By March 2009, yet more letters of protest go out, the total now around 35,000. This is a typical letter. LCC apologises for the delay in replying to submissions  “....due to the large number of representations.”

27th Jan 2010.  LCC Development Control Committee REFUSES PERMISSION for the gas storage at a special meeting.

Meanwhile the company changed its name to Halite. 
                       
Around this time a blow-out occurred on Back Lane. An old brine well was being pressure tested.  The valve had corroded shut and brine was forced under pressure around the outside of the pipework, solution excavating a depression approx 3ft deep and 100ft across.  The toxic run off then killed 100 yards of established hawthorn hedge.  Radio Lancashire reported this as a “...water burst..”  They reported the facts  inaccurately, though whether through bad journalism or through being in receipt of incorrect information, is not known.
 
On 17th July 2015, the scheme was passed on review. The Secretary of State for the then Department of Energy and Climate Change was Amber Rudd. Her brother worked for Finsbury and they lobb​ied on behalf of Halite, so Lord Bourne  of Aberystwyth  gave the final go ahead.

PWG, having done everything it could to achieve it's purpose of defeating the gas storage proposals through the planning process, disbanded, their hard work and public commitment, along with the involvement of a whole community, going to waste through what many in the community believe to be political corruption. 

Although PWG may have gone, protests against the gas storage have not and our current campaign still has the aim of preventing this “...dangerous and inappropriate” scheme. With the dubiously achieved decision of Lord Bourne to give a Development Consent Order, we have now to argue on different fronts for success.  Before outlining the immediate threats from the proposal,  it's as well to consider other more distant events that have weighed on the concerns of the community.
 
HUTCHINSON, KANSAS.  U.S.A.
 
Early on in the campaign, research by PWG unearthed a worrying incident at Hutchinson, U.S.A.  Gas had migrated from a storage facility in domed salt for several miles to build up and explode in a retail warehouse in the town.  The gas had migrated along natural fissures in the rock and built up in the basement over a weekend.  Because of this Kansas state law does not allow underground gas storage within “...3 miles of a population centre..” or “...5 miles from mines, active or dormant.”  There are approx 150,000 people living within 5 miles of the proposed Preesall storage caverns;- this in layered salt, not the domed salt used for gas storage elsewhere.
 
PORTAS RANCH, L.A.  USA
 
Gas here was stored in sandstone, not salt but escaped through poorly maintained valves, which corroded to allow gas to seep out.  At its worst, aircraft flying into l.A's international airport were diverted around the area of potential danger, houses were evacuated and pets began to have fits and vomit.

ABBEYSTEAD
 
Locally, methane gas ignited to cause the explosion at Abbeystead and its subsequent injury and loss of life. Although not caused by deliberately stored gas, residents of Wyre will remember this for a long time yet.
 
CURRENT PLANS, inherited by NPL from Halite.
 
Halite sold their operation to NPL in November 2018, despite Halite owing massive debt,  the project described as not cost effective, (by Halite at January meeting, 2018) and not needed by the (Conservative) government's own advisers. 

Current plans are for 19 caverns to store 130,000,000 cu m of gas. (cf Canataxx's original plans for 40 billion cu ft) Plans are for angled drilling into the layered salt of the area. Neither angled drilling, nor storage in layered sat has been tried before. The overburden of 300ft is  flimsy compared to the overburden of two or more miles in domed salt. (E.g Germany.)Several caverns are large enough to contain Blackpol Tower, with room to spare, the largest could contain the Eiffel Tower. This largest cavern would lie within 100m of the boundary with Hackensall Hall and is the nearest to the village of Knott End - a cul-de-sac. No safety or evacuation plans have been mooted for any area, by any of the three companies involved or who have been involved in this project previously.

Access for construction vehicles and workers will be off Hallgate Lane and normal construction will allow 62 heavy wagons per day :- 31 journeys each way on already overcrowded and poorly maintained roads.
                       
THE CONSTRUCTION AND TOXIC BRINE
           
The caverns are planned to be solution mined. This involves forcing water under pressure into the ground, dissolving the salt and the resulting waste brine pumped to the surface for disposal.  'Disposal' here means dumping as toxic effluent into the Irish Sea.
 If allowed, this effluent, at 8 times the salinity of ambient sea water, will be discarded into the sea at Rossall at up to 19,000 tonnes per day (Circa 28 Olympic sized swimming pools) for at least 6 years.

Locals with knowledge of the area – commercial fishermen and boat anglers – are concerned the computer models used for brine dispersal do not tell the whole story. There appears to be no in-house expertise within Halite  (now under NPL's umbrella) for marine discharge. With these quantities of brine a miscalculation, accident or mistake could damage the marine habitat irrevocably.  'Brinewatch' is the protest group with detailed information on this toxic effluent discharge.

At a public meeting of 19/1/2018 Halite said they would adhere to the conditions in the Development Consent Order as that what they had to do legally, and that if the local community wasn't happy with those standards they should take it up with the authorities who approved the project to go ahead.
           
This project will bring no community benefits long term, construction jobs will be of minimum local benefit and noise concerns have not been assuaged.  To quote from Canataxx “This is a purely commercial development.”  Time has moved on, but the attitude of callous, remote and unaccountable business ventures has not.   ​

Joe, local resident, Knott End. 

​We’re coming to the end of another year. Nearly three and a half years since Halite got permission for underground gas storage in Preesall with the development consent order and around 16 years since the project was first mooted. 

Halite (now owned by Cheshire Energy/ NPL) have been busy submitting plans and documentation to Wyre Council to be signed off so works can begin with the access road in the Spring. The brine outfall pipe and discharge monitoring remain a major concern for all parties, including Halite - albeit for different reasons. The noise limits set for drilling under the estuary are also a problem for Halite to overcome. If we get to the stage of building the brine outfall pipe then we only have to look at Anchorsholme to see how difficult that will be and the construction window is very short. Meanwhile unstable land around Preesall could potentially sink plans literally. 

As the land and consents for pipelines are presumably of value in themselves, time and money could be our best friends next year. How much are investors willing to spend on a project and how profitable will it be in the end? There is a reason so many gas storage projects with permission have not come to fruition. 

So, whilst we are not ending the year with a party, there is still many a slip twixt cup and lip. 

Cheers and best wishes for a hopefully gas storage free New Year, 

Claire 

Original version posted on facebook see No Gas Storage facebook page. 💚

​A lot has happened since Halite announced its plans to start construction in October 2017.

Halite has restarted its community liaison panel (CLP). There was one meeting of the CLP and one technical update. Notes and/or slides from these meetings are available on Halite's website. We are now members of the panel and are happy to ask questions on behalf of individuals or groups and report back on answers given at meetings. 

We have held three community meetings ourselves and our fourth  meeting is on Friday 19th January 2018 at 7.30pm at the Knott End Golf Club. We hope that Halite representatives will be there to answer our questions. We also ran a 'Hike Against Halite' on New Year's Eve. Thanks to everyone who came.

There has been a big focus on the brine outfall into the sea at Rossall and what this means for marine life and local communities. You can read all about concerns from local community experts here. Regulators have also had concerns. The Marine Management Organisation has asked questions on the timing of benthic surveys (see the public records on their database) and the NW Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authority has asked questions on the marine monitoring group due to be set up to monitor the methodology and implementation of the project. The construction of the brine outflow pipe is reported to be delayed for up to a year.  

For those of us in Preesall and Knott End and the surrounding area, Halite are still saying that construction will start as planned in the first quarter of 2018. This must be with the access road off the A588 although as far as we are aware the new suggestions to reduce the speed limit on the A588 leading up to the new junction have not been approved. We hope to get more of a timetable from Halite Energy representatives at our meeting on Friday.

In other news the Liverpool Bay Special Protection Area for birds has been extended and the Lancashire Wildlife Trust has made a statement on the project. 

Please don't hesitate to get in touch with information or questions.

All the best for the New Year,

Claire and all at No Gas Storage

​(This blog was first sent out as a newsletter in January 2018)