PART of a controversial plan to build a gas storage compound in King Street in Rudheath has been submitted to Cheshire County Council.

As reported in the Guardian, Scottish company King Street Energy Ltd wants to dig out 10 underground chambers beneath the land at High House Farm, opposite Morrisons, and build a gas processing plant above the ground.

As part of its plan, King Street Energy Ltd has submitted a proposal for the installation of a 58km estuary water and salt water pipeline between Commercial Road, in Bromborough, and King Street ,in Rudheath. The other elements of the plan are subject to a separate application and an environmental assessment.

The plans, which have sparked the formation of an action group called Resistance Against Gas Storage (RAGS), were due to be discussed by Vale Royal Borough Council planning committee on February 12.

But councillors unanimously agreed to defer the meeting until they have more information on the proposal to make a recommendation to county council.

RAGS founder, Wayne Ranger, from Pennys Lane, said: "It is absolutely essential the borough council comes out against the application and such a result would be of major influence to the final decision.

"People must write a letter or email Vale Royal as soon as possible, stressing, as a local resident, your objections."

At Cheshire County Council, the proposal will not be up for discussion until at least the summer.

"We need to conduct a massive consultation with 27 parish councils, four district councils including Vale Royal, Chester, Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Wirral and hundreds of neighbouring interests before we're in a position to consider the plan," said a council spokesman.