WYRE Council could be set to join the fight against controversial gas storage proposals after a damning report from its head of planning.

Members of the council's planning committee meet next Monday to discuss its response to an application from American firm, Canatxx, to store gas in caverns beneath Over Wyre.

And head of planning, Mike Gee, has strongly recommended that councillors advise Lancashire County Council to kick out the scheme.

He has raised seven specific planning reasons to block the proposals, including 'considerable and understandable fear and distress' to local residents, and asked the county to look closely at 10 further points of concern raised by officers.

The development would also 'represent an unacceptable danger to existing residential and leisure uses in the vicinity of the proposed wellheads,' Mr Gee said.

In particular, two caravan parks, one owned by Canatxx, would have to close and several homes, not in Canatxx's control, would also be too dangerous to occupy.

The plan would also be 'detrimental to the quality of the local agricultural landscape' and 'impact upon features of nature conservation interest,' increase the use of country lanes by large vehicles during the 10-year construction phase, conflict with the proposed redevelopment of Fleetwood Docks and result in the disposal of a large amount of salt 'contrary to the principles of sustainable development and use of natural resources,' Mr Gee will tell councillors.

Mr Gee also criticises the fact that Canatxx's submission does not refer to any new geological information, a lack of specific investigations of geological conditions in the area and a lack of information on other worked cavities in the area.

He concludes: "I do not consider there to be adequate evidence available to be satisfied that the geological conditions, and the presence of past workings, are such as to ensure safe gas storage."

Councillors will visit the proposed site on Monday morning before travelling to Fleetwood's Marine Hall for the meeting, which is open to the public.

If councillors accept Mr Gee's report, his recommendations will be sent to Lancashire County Council, which will have the final say on the proposals.