Fighting to stop Canatxx/Halite Energy's plans to store natural gas under the River Wyre near Preesall:

Ben pictured above with local residents near the proposed site.		Mr Wallace says: "The Campaign to stop Canatxx storing tons of natural gas under the River Wyre at Preesall has been a long one. Local residents have had to put up with this Company, in one form or another, for nearly a decade. It angers me that this Company does not seem to have any regard for the local community. It has pushed on with its plans against overwhelming local opposition time and time again."

History: Although Canatxx bought the land in Preesall in the 1990's it submitted its first application to store natural gas underground In November 2003. A Public Inquiry was then due to take place, because Lancashire County Council failed to decide the application within the required time. The Inquiry, however, did not take place because a second application was made in November 2004. This application then became the subject of an Inquiry, which took place in 2005/06. Then in 2007, the Secretary of State refused the Canatxx appeal. In November 2008, Canatxx submitted a third application, which was refused by Lancaster County Council.

Below are a few of Mr Wallace's press releases which have been released throughout the long Campaign:

WYRE MP SEEKS TO TURN UP HEAT ON CANATXX - October 2005
Wyre MP Ben Wallace has tabled a series of parliamentary questions to Ministers which he hopes may result in further pressure being brought to bear on Cantaxx's plans to store 2 million tonnes of natural gas under the Wyre Estuary. A large slice of the land in the Wyre MP's constituency where Canatxx intends to build its gas storage facility is owned by the Duchy of Lancaster. Mr Wallace hopes his questions to the Government Ministers responsible for taking day-to-day decisions about how this land is managed and used will reveal whether any permission has been sought or given for Canatxx to go-ahead with its controversial plans. Commenting, Ben Wallace said: "If Ministers reveal that the Duchy of Lancaster has not given any approval for Canatxx to set up shop on its land in Wyre, then there may be a very strong case for stopping the entire scheme dead in its tracks."

MP WANTS POTENTIAL 'DEAL BREAKER' MINISTER TO VISIT CANATXX SITE - November 2005
Wyre MP Ben Wallace is seeking to use the floor of the House of Commons to ask a Cabinet Minister, with the potential to throw a huge spanner in plans to site a gas storage facility on the Wyre Estuary, to visit the area. Earlier this month, answers to questions tabled in Parliament by the Wyre MP revealed that no permission has been given for Canatxx to exploit the Duchy of Lancaster's Mineral Rights on the Wyre Estuary - Mineral Rights which are vital to Cantaxx's plans to clear out underground salt caverns in preparation for storing 2 million tonnes of natural gas. Commenting, Ben Wallace said:

"As a Cabinet Minister at the heart of Government, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has the potential to throw a huge spanner in Cantaxx's plans. Crucial to Canatxx's entire scheme is the Company's ability to clear salt caverns under the Wyre countryside ready for the storage of 2 million tonnes of natural gas. The solution they've come up with is to pump eighty million litres of water each day from Fleetwood fish docks into the caverns before pumping the water out again towards Rossall - a solution which involves exploiting the Duchy of Lancaster's Mineral Rights by drilling into the Wyre Estuary coastline for which, the Minister has confirmed, no permission has been given. If we can get the Minister responsible for overseeing the Duchy's land on behalf of the Crown to visit Wyre, meet local people and come out against Canatxx's plans we stand a huge chance of sinking the entire scheme."

WALLACE CALLS ON PRIME MINISTER TO PLUG 'DEMOCRATIC HOLE' IN CANATXX CASE - December 2005
Wyre MP Ben Wallace says the delay in naming a new Duchy of Lancaster Minister is hampering efforts to exploit a second front in the fight to stop a huge gas storage facility being sited on the Wyre Estuary. Mr Wallace has tabled a Parliamentary question challenging the Prime Minister to say when he is going to appoint a new Duchy Minister following the last month's Cabinet reshuffle which saw the previous office holder, John Hutton, moved from the post to take over from David Blunkett as Work and Pensions Secretary. No permission has been given for Canatxx to exploit the Duchy of Lancaster's Mineral Rights on the Wyre Estuary as part of its controversial gas storage plans. Mr Wallace says the delay in naming Mr Hutton's replacement is hampering efforts to pile more pressure on the Texas gas company. Commenting, Ben Wallace said:

"The Prime Minister's refusal to name a new Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has left a democratic hole at the heart of the Canatxx issue. Until a replacement is named, it is impossible to get the Minister responsible for overseeing the Duchy's land on behalf of the Crown to visit Wyre, meet local people and hear why refusing Cantaxx permission to exploit these mineral-rights is good for safety, good for the environment and good for Wyre."

WALLACE: NORTH SEA GAS AND NOT CANATXX IS THE WAY TO GO - January 2006
Wyre MP Ben Wallace wants the Government to do more to encourage the exploration of new North Sea gas fields as a sensible and safe alternative to controversial proposals by Canatxx to store millions of tonnes of natural gas in underground caverns near Preesall. Pointing to last month's decision by Shell to cut the number of rigs it will use for North Sea energy exploration, the MP says the Chancellor's decision last year to introduce a £6.5 billion windfall tax on North Sea energy companies has been a backward step which ran the risk of playing into Canatxx's hands. Commenting, Mr Wallace said:

"Canatxx is the answer to a question no one asked. Britain is already a gas-producing nation with some of the best natural gas storage anywhere in the world under the North Sea. Gordon Brown's decision in his last budget to use North Sea energy companies as a cash cow to plug the much-publicised hole in the nation's finances was a short-term fix which could still have long-term consequences for under-sea energy exploration. The Government needs to put in place proper long-term measures to encourage North Sea gas exploration and, in doing so, pull the plug on Canatxx's proposals in Wyre which even the Company's own experts admit cannot be made totally safe."

MP CONFIRMS DATE WITH THE INSPECTOR - February 2006
Wyre MP Ben Wallace says he is "relishing" the opportunity to speak out against Canatxx's gas storage plans when the public inquiry into the Company's controversial proposals moves into its closing stages early next month. The MP has confirmed that, during a special session of the inquiry to be held at Fleetwood's Marine Hall on 2nd March, he will be calling on the Government's Planning Inspector to throw out Canatxx's appeal. The Company hopes the Inquiry will pave the way for John Prescott to overturn the unanimous decision of Wyre Council and Lancashire County Council not to allow the storage of volatile natural gas in underground caverns near Preesall. Commenting, Mr Wallace said:

"Canatxx's already flimsy case for gas storage in Wyre has all but imploded under the searching glare of this Public Inquiry. In the last few weeks alone, the Company has been forced to concede to the Inquiry that they can't guarantee the total safety of their plans. The answer to our future energy needs must lie in better North Sea gas exploration - not in Canatxx's proposal to turn a large part of the Wyre countryside into a man-made gas field."

WYRE MP SAYS "NOTHING NEW IN CANATXX BID" - October 2008
Wyre MP Ben Wallace met with local residents on Friday who are concerned with Canatxx plans to store gas at Preesall. Mr Wallace listened to the concerns of residents as well as visiting the site to see for himself the subsidence in the area. Mr Wallace told the residents that "having read Canatxx's brochure and spoken to people who had attended the exhibition, there was nothing new in Canatxx's plans and that no amount of glossy leaflets can change that." He went on to say "Canatxx's first bid to store volatile natural gas in underground caverns near Preesall famously failed on safety grounds and, despite repackaging the bid, nothing has changed". Mr Wallace went on to say "Canatxx seems determined to force its plans on the local community causing more distress to my constituents, it is essential that local people stand firm once more and send Canatxx packing."

CANATXX PILE ON THE MISERY AGAIN - February 2009
Local Wyre MP Ben Wallace spoke of his anger and sadness today after Canatxx submitted plans to store volatile natural gas in Preesall. Canatxx has submitted the plans to Lanacashire County Council despite knowing most local people oppose the plans and fear that the storage facility will be a safety risk to the area. Mr Wallace said today:

"It is very disappointing for my constituency that Canatxx chooses to ignore both local opinion and geological evidence - no one will be fooled that this application will be much different from the last. This speculative company clearly hopes to exploit the Government's change in planning laws. I will fight it all the way."

WYRE MP OVERJOYED AT CANATXX REJECTION - January 2010
Local MP Ben Wallace spoke today of his joy after hearing the news that Canatxx's plans to store 1.2 tons of volatile natural gas under the Wyre Estuary had been rejected by Lancashire County Council's Development Control Committee. Mr Wallace welcomed the news and said,

"This has been a long hard fight and I am thrilled for my Constituents at the result. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has fought against this development. The list is long but I think a special thank-you must go to campaigners Ian Mulroy, June Jackson and all the various Town Councils and support groups who have been involved. Party Politics took a back seat during the anti-Canatxx struggle and I would also like to thank Joan Humble MP for speaking against the development and supporting the anti-Canatxx Campaign. I think that Canatxx underestimated the resolve of the people from Over Wyre and the surrounding areas and this was a big mistake."

Mr Wallace went on, "The strain that this application has caused local residents cannot be underestimated and I only hope that this is the last we hear of Canatxx which seemed so determined to press on with its plans despite overwhelming local opposition."

CANATXX: HOW MUCH LONGER CAN THIS GO ON? - February 2010
Wyre MP, Ben Wallace, this week wrote to John Healy MP (Minister of State for Communities and Local Government) asking if something can be done to stop Canatxx's repeated plans to store Gas under the River Wyre once and for all. Mr Wallace said,

"This application in one form or another has been going on for far too long and I am very concerned about how Canatxx can continue to put applications in and then appeal against the decision for what seems like an eternity. The issue is, and has always been, that Canatxx has failed to make its case on geology, safety and environmental grounds, so it really doesn't matter how Canatxx wraps the application up. This has been a cloud over the head of local residents for long enough. It is time that this cloud was lifted and, with it, will go the distress and despair that Canatxx has bestowed on the local community."

WYRE MP CALLS FOR COUNCIL TO BE TOUGH ON CANATXX - July 2010
The MP for Wyre & Preston North Ben Wallace met with the Executive Director for the Environment Directorate at Lancashire County Council recently and suggested that a tough stance be taken with Canatxx in the future. Mr Wallace met with the Environment chief Jo Turton and stressed that Canatxx must not be allowed to continually put in applications. Mr Wallace also called for LCC to look into the possibility of re-cooping costs from the American Company for the application which was rejected in 2006 after it went to a Public Inquiry. Mr Wallace said,

"The taxpayer cannot be expected to foot the bill for this Company and considering that the geology of the site will not change and, therefore, the safety issues that have been highlighted in the past will still be there in the future. Any further applications must be dealt with robustly."

WYRE MP READY FOR ANOTHER FIGHT WITH GAS STORAGE FIRM - July 2010
The MP for Wyre & Preston North Ben Wallace reacted with disappointment and disbelief this week at the news that Halite Energy Group (previously Canatxx) will yet again be submitting plans to store natural gas under the Wyre Estuary near Preesall. Mr Wallace said,

"This firm just will not take no for an answer. The fact of the matter is that the site is not suitable to store natural gas in salt caverns. It does not matter what the firm is called or how it wraps its bid up, the geology of the site will not change and neither will the safety issues highlighted in previous failed bids."

The Wyre MP continued, "This firm does not seem to have any regard for the local residents, who have lived with this hanging over them for far too long and who now have to go through the whole process again. I have no doubt that the opposition will be just as resolute as in previous bids and I will also do everything in my power to stop this company putting more misery on local residents."

The fight goes on:

Message from Ben Wallace:
"I received a letter at the end of July from Canatxx/Halite Energy informing me that the Company will be submitting a new application to store gas at the Preesall site. It seems that this fight has been going on for an eternity and every time Local Authorities or the Government have said 'NO' to gas storage on the River Wyre, Canatxx/Halite Energy just keeps resubmitting its plans.

I have the upmost admiration for local people and groups that have opposed this development for so long. Their resolve and determination has been and continues to be tested, but has never wavered. We are now heading for another consultation period during which Canatxx/Halite Energy will try to convince us that it can safely store natural gas below the River Wyre. Well, it will take a lot more than a change of name and personnel to convince me that this scheme can be safe. It would take a miracle, because the truth is the geology of the site is not sound and for that reason gas storage near Preesall is 'not safe'.

I will continue to oppose any plans to store gas below the River Wyre and I will do everything in my power to stop this company from piling more misery onto local residents."