RESIDENTS can have their say on plans to expand the operation of an underground gas storage facility north of Middlewich.


The Keuper Gas Storage Project will use purpose-built underground salt cavities, created through solution mining, to store natural gas.


It is planned to create up to 19 new cavities at the Holford Brinefield and surrounding area to store up to 500 million cubic metres of natural gas. The scheme will include two new brine tanks on the Lostock Works site off Griffiths Road in Northwich.


Once the brine has been removed from the cavities it is sent to INEOS’ operation at Runcorn, along with other customers in the chemical industry, and the new cavity is then used to store natural gas.


The scheme is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, which means a Development Consent Order is needed from the Secretary of State for the Department for Energy and Climate Change.


The public can register as an interested party at the Planning Inspectorate website until Wednesday, February 10, as part of the pre-examination process, which lasts three months.


During this stage they will be able to provide a summary of their views on the application and will be invited to attend a preliminary meeting chaired by an inspector.


The Inspectorate has six months to carry out the examination stage, and during this period people who have registered to have their say are invited to provide more details of their views in writing.


The Inspectorate must prepare a report on the application to the Secretary of State, including a recommendation, within three months of the six-month examination period.


The Secretary of State then has a further three months to make the decision on whether to grant or refuse development consent.


Once a decision has been issued there is a six-week period in which it may be challenged in the High Court.