CAMPAIGNERS fighting plans to store gas under the River Wyre have called a public meeting for the new year.

Thornton Action Group (TAG) wants residents to come to the meeting at Thornton Little Theatre, Four Lane Ends, Thornton on January 12 at 7.30pm, to discuss the proposed storage scheme.

The meeting has been called after TAG members voted unanimously to fight the planning application by Canatxx Gas Storage Ltd.

The energy giant wants to construct multiple well heads along the Wyre across from Stanah, to store up to two million tonnes of gas in caverns created in salt beds under the estuary. Canatxx plans to construct the caverns over a ten year period. If the application is approved, work could start next April, with the first caverns ready for use within 30 months.

The company insists it wants to minimise noise pollution and environmental impact, and says around 150 temporary jobs and 15 permanent jobs would be created, with the loss of only ten jobs from local caravan parks.

But TAG is fighting back, distributing leaflets to 5,000 Thornton homes explaining the group's concerns.

These include fear of explosion, a potential fall in property values and risk of damage to marine life and bird habitat from brine pumped off the shore at Rossall. Members say they are also worried that 80 million litres of brine a day -- cavern salt dissolved in sea water -- could be pumped into the sea 2.3km off Rossall School, destroying sea-bed life within 50 metres of the outfall.

Howard Phillips, TAG chairman, said: "The aim of our public meeting is to rally the troops to fight this scheme. We want residents to lodge their objections with Lancashire County Council before the deadline on January 31."

Jim Stansfield, TAG spokesman, added that he believed most Wyre councillors and Lancashire county councillors were against the plan.

The final decision will be made by Lancashire County Council because of the nature of the application.

He said: "Canatxx, this American company, want to come here to make money by storing gas when off-peak prices are low, and re-sell it during peak demand.

"They need to know how communities feel about it."

Lancashire County Council can be contacted at PO Box 78, County Hall, Fishergate, Preston, PR1 8XJ.

Cantaxx has pledged to answer queries written on a form available from Canatxx Gas Storage Ltd, Prospect House, Hillhouse International, Thornton Cleveleys, Lancs, FY5 4QD, or ukteam@canatxx.demon.co.uk