That was the message from anti-gas storage campaigners who this week sent 10,852 objections to Halite Energy's plans to store thousands of tonnes of gas under the Over Wyre countryside to the Planning Inspectorate.

And as the letters were posted, Lancashire County Council lodged its official objection to the company's proposals to pump huge amounts of natural gas into 19 purpose-built caverns in the salt fields at Preesall.

It will be the fourth time the application is considered and members of the Protect Wyre Group hope the 10,852 objections received from local residents will leave no doubt the scheme is not wanted by locals.

Chairman Ian Mulroy told The Gazette: "We hoped to reach the 10,000 mark, that is the number we have received following the previous applications, so we are delighted to have almost reached 11,000 this time around.

"More than half of these responses included additional comments which will leave the inspectors in no doubt this scheme isn't wanted here.

"I would like to offer my personal thanks to all those who delivered the leaflets, those who keyed in responses into spreadsheets and for the locals who took the time to fill them in and sent them back to us."

Residents had two ways of voicing their opposition to the gas storage scheme. The first was to register with the Planning Inspectorate individually as an interested party by February this year.
And the second option for those who did not register was to send an objection to the Protect Wyre Group for inclusion in its evidence submission this week.

The 10,852 responses included more than 4,000 by residents in Thornton and Cleveleys, 3,000 in Poulton and 2,000 in Fleetwood.

Around 320 objections were also received from the Blackpool area.
The most common concern regarding Halite's scheme was the fear of gas migration from the caverns to Fleetwood, Thornton, Cleveleys and other Over Wyre villages.

Fears over the potential of a well head explosion also featured strongly in the letters, as well as concerns over the evacuation of residents if a disaster occurred, the unsuitable geology of the Preesall salt and destruction of countryside and wildlife.

Howard Phillips, vice-chairman of Protect Wyre, added: "The inspectors will obviously draw their own conclusions about the feelings expressed in these letters and on the forms but it will be clear this scheme is not wanted here and that residents want to see an end to this and to any future applications.

"The Protect Wyre Group feels such a large response from a four week campaign adds to the importance and the strength of feeling against the scheme.

"After four applications there is a risk of objection lethargy but we received a great response."

Lancashire County Council submitted its report formally objecting to the plans in its role as one of the statutory authorities being consulted by the national Planning Inspectorate, which must decide whether to approve the controversial scheme.

County councillor Michael Green, cabinet member for economic development, environment and planning, said: "These proposals are considered to be on a national scale because of their potential impact on energy supplies.

"But the impact of the development on the local area would be considerable and it is only right we have thoroughly examined the proposals and commented on them in detail.

"We have concluded the detrimental impact this scheme would have on the rural and coastal areas included in the plan far outweighs the intended benefits."

Halite insist its plans are safe and say the proposals would be expected to pump £600m into the local economy over an eight-year construction programme that would also create 510 new jobs in the area.

A decision is expected to be made on the plans next year.