Latest attempt to stop LNG ends in failure (From Western Telegraph)

Latest attempt to stop LNG ends in failure

Campaigners against the LNG developments on the shores of the Milford Haven Waterway have failed in their bid to get a judicial review.

Safe Haven had claimed that Pembrokeshire County Council and Pembrokeshire National Park Authority had not assessed the risks attached to the multi-million pound developments.

The group's High Court challenge failed as did its 11th hour bid in the Court of Appeal, which gave its ruling on Friday.

Despite the latest setback, Safe Haven may take its fight to the European Commission.

Spokesman Gordon Main says the Court of Appeal has included a major factual error in its judgement.

"The judgement explicitly stated that the Health and Safety Executive did an assessment of risks from a major release of LNG from a tanker at the jetty. The HSE did not complete such an assessment," he said.

"An Appeal Court judgement, with an error at its heart, essentially means Milford Haven is not going to have a marine risk assessment for LNG tankers unless the European Commission intervenes."

Added Mr Main: "Safe Haven will be consulting its legal team over the coming days to decide how best to approach the vital matter of public safety."

Pembrokeshire Friends of the Earth energy spokesman Gordon James said: "It's looking more and more likely that the people of Milford are simply going to have to rely on keeping their fingers crossed that there are no major accidents."

Group co-ordinator Baz Samdradh commented: "It's Bluestone revisited and magnified - big money's all that really matters it would appear.

"One of Judge Keene's objections was that the legal challenge had been brought too late and a judicial review would thus cause 'very substantial prejudice' to the developers because they have already invested millions of pounds in the project.

"What a comfort that would be to the friends and family of any resident killed if a major accident did occur."