Consultation plan for Wyre power station

4:41pm Thursday 21st August 2008

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Wyre residents have been assured they will be given a say over plans to build a £600m power station in Thornton.

Welsh Power and landowners NPL Estates plan to build the gas powered station at the Hillhouse International Business Park, the former ICI site.

They say that the project would create 600 construction jobs and 40 permanent jobs.

The leader of Wyre Borough Council has welcomed the scheme as a positive development for the area, but promised residents they will be consulted.

Councillor Russell Forsyth said: “In the current economic climate for someone to come and invest so much money in Wyre is a massive boost.

“There will be plenty of construction and permanent jobs created and the plans will also have a knock-on effect through the borough.”

Planning permission for the plant, which could be active within four years time, will have to be given by central government, but they will be asking for the views of Wyre Borough Council and Lancashire County Council.

Coun Forsyth added: “We will get our say and we still have several issues we have gone back to Welsh Power over.

“I am meeting with the managing director in early September so will be clarifying some points then.

“We will hold a full consultation with residents. This could be a huge boost for the area but it will have an impact on local people and we have to make sure they are comfortable with it.

“There will be issues surrounding transport and the environment that we need to consider.”

Coun Forsyth also said the plan had no connection with the Canatxx application to store 1.2m tonnes of gas in hollowed out salt caverns under the River Wyre at Preesall, which was refused last year.

Simon Towers, managing director of NPL Estates, said: “This is exciting news for the site and the area in general.

“The ability to generate power at Hillhouse will help us to attract more large manufacturing and process companies joining with those already on site, and thereby securing solid employment for the future, bringing more prosperity to Wyre and adding to the vibrant business community which we have helped create.”