LOCAL pressure group, Safe Haven, claims the LNG sites in Pembrokeshire do not meet the industry's own safety guidelines.

The best practise guidelines have been set by SIGTTO (Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators).

Gordon Main, Safe Haven spokesman, said: "They make it clear that LNG operations in port areas require a full quantitive risk assessment (QRA). This is a completely different order to the piecemeal 'risk assessment' work carried out so far.

"Had the county's planning committee been made aware of these guidelines, Safe Haven feels sure that they would have thought twice before settling for less.

"South Hook LNG, Dragon LNG and Milford Haven Port Authority are all SIGTTO members, yet their proposals fall short," he claimed.

In a letter to SIGTTO, Mr Main alleges: "I believe that there are short cuts being taken that may threaten LNG internationally.

An LNG accident involving casualties anywhere in the world could cost the industry billions in delays and rising costs, hence the importance of SIGTTO's best practice guidance. In Milford Haven this best practice has been overlooked," he alleged.

South Haven has already called for a judicial review of planning consent for the Waterston and South Hook LNG sites.

Milford Haven Port Authority chief executive, Ted Sangster, has refuted claims that the authority should have commissioned a QRA for LNG shipping in the Haven.

He says the risk assessment is an ongoing process, and those claiming a marine QRA should have been completed, are showing limited understanding of the role and responsibilities of a port.

"We've used our own people, marine managers and pilots, technical teams from both projects and brought in outside specialist consultants in areas where that would be beneficial," he said,

Safe Haven is holding a public meeting at Neyland Rugby Club tomorrow (Thursday) at 7.30pm. There will be a presentation on SIGTTO best practice and an update on the judicial review proceedings.