Gas plant gets go-ahead (From Western Telegraph)

Gas plant gets go-ahead

Permission for the storage of liquefied natural gas (LNG) at the Petroplus site in Waterston was granted at last Tuesday's meeting of the county council planning committee.

Last month, members approved the construction of an LNG storage terminal on the site.

LNG (natural gas cooled into liquid form) is classed as a hazardous substance and Petroplus requires special consent to store it. The body charged with evaluating any safety issues relating to that storage is the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Despite fears expressed by one resident in Waterston and one resident in Hazlebeach, the HSE concluded any safety risk was insignificant. Now that consent has been granted, the HSE want to be consulted on any development within 2.3km of the site, rather than within 1km as was the case.

Meanwhile, work on the environmental assessment of the old Esso refinery at Herbrandston, which is being looked at as another possible LNG terminal, is continuing.

An Esso spokesman said: "The bulk of the flora, fauna and groundwork has been completed."