Parliamentary Candidate Opposes Gas PRI Site During Public Enquiry

9.03.50am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 16th May 2007

West Worcestershire's Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Richard Burt, made his objections to proposals for an industrial scale gas Pressure Reduction Installation at Corse during a public enquiry last week.

Mr Burt's submission was presented to the public enquiry, held at Corse and Staunton Village Hall during time allocated last Thursday. The Lib Dem candidate had already made a written objection to the Forest of Dean Council who turned down the original application.

Mr Burt said: "The proposed PRI site at Corse will establish a large, intrusive industrial complex that is completely alien to the existing landscape and will irreparably damage the visual amenity for residents and visitors to the area.

"An over ground installation here would also make a soft target for terrorist attack. Any explosion at the site would incinerate surrounding villages and disrupt a large part of the nation's gas supply.

"This is not a risk that we should be prepared to take to improve the bottom line of National Grid PLC shareholder profits."