OBJECTIONS TO STORAGE
PRELIMINARY SUBMISSION NOW CLOSED
On 25th
July 2007 Star Energy submitted plans to the Secretary of State for their
proposed Albury Gas Storage Project. This preliminary submission is
for a Storage Authorisation Order under the Gas Act 1965.
The deadline for representations closed on 31st August 2007 and the
preliminary submission is now being considered by the Secretary of State's Office.
A decision was expected by the end
of October 2007. (but still no announcement)
View the submission.
SaveBlackheathCommon's
objection document
Click above for
main documement and below for pages of appendix.
Appendix A contains photographs of
current Albury Park facilities:
(provided to Albury Parish
Council & SaveBlackheathCommon by a concerned resident)
Appendix A
Introduction
Appendix A Photopage 1
Appendix A Photopage 2
Appendix A Photopage 3
Appendix A Photopage 4
Appendix A Photopage 5
Appendix A Photopage 6
Appendix A Photopage 7
Appendix A Photopage 8
Star Energy's proposals raise many concerns and our grounds for objection
include the following:
§ NATIONAL
INTEREST -
The case has not been made that there is an overriding national interest for
this gas storage development that warrants industrialisation in an Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty.
§
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
–
Albury Park should be protected as it lies within AONB, Green Belt, an area
of Great Landscape Value, a Site of Nature Conservation Importance, Historic
Parkland and Ancient Woodland.
§
ALTERNATIVE SITES NOT DEMONSTRATED
- An adequate options appraisal has not been presented to demonstrate that
there is no alternative to accessing the Albury gasfield through Albury Park
§
SAFETY/SECURITY CONCERNS
– this will be a high pressure gas facility with wellheads only 170m from
residential properties, close to busy roads, bridleways and numerous
recreational users. The site
will be expanded and have a much larger inventory making this development
much more of a risk than the existing single small well.
§
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
- the construction and operation of the multiple wellsites, Gas Processing
Facility and pipelines will have damaging effects in terms of ecology,
pollution, traffic and visual impact.
§
NOISE
– national & local guidelines for noise limits will be exceeded near to
Albury Park
§
INCREMENTAL DAMAGE
-
a second, much larger Phase 2 storage facility is also planned: approval for
Phase 1 sets a precedent for further industrialisation of the AONB in Phase
2, including an unspecified number of additional wells.
§
PROCEDURAL ISSUES
–
the 1965 Gas Act has never before been used to authorise a gas storage
facility and Government policy and planning guidelines have not yet been
finalised.
SUMMARY OF STAR ENERGY'S CURRENT 3 PHASE PLANS
Star Energy currently plans to further appraise the Albury
gasfield by drilling from its existing site in Albury Park. They also plan
to use the Albury gasfield to develop extensive gas storage facilities. Further
details are given below but in summary there are currently 3 phases of proposed
development that will affect Albury Park:
-
APPRAISAL OF ALBURY 2
Star Energy needs two appraisal wells to assess a new "horizon" of the
Albury gasfield. This new horizon is known as "Albury 2" and is
thought to be 4 times bigger than the "Albury 1" horizon that has already
been depleted during the 20 year appraisal.
-
GAS STORAGE OF ALBURY 1
Star Energy now plans to site gas processing facilities at Furze Copse near
Send prison, rather than in Albury Park. However, the gas storage plans will
require the drilling of 4 additional development wells over 36 weeks from an
enlarged site at Albury Park plus a 5 mile pipeline to Furze Copse.
-
GAS STORAGE OF ALBURY 2
If appraisal of Albury 2 confirms expectations, Star Energy will submit
plans to use the Albury 2 horizon for gas storage, hence increasing storage capacity by
up to 500%. This would require the drilling of an unspecified number
of additional wells in the AONB.
