Ammonium nitrate proposals to be considered shortly

A petition and many letters, including one from Isle MP Andrew Percy, have already been lodged with North Lincolnshire Council objecting to plans by PD Ports to store the potentially explosive fertiliser at a Station Road depot.

The application for hazardous substance consent for storage will go before the Council’s planning committee after the final date for submissions from the public, that is on May 8.

Among those who have objected to the proposal are Keadby and Althorpe parish councillors. Their letter states: “The parish council have a duty of care to residents and as such support them in objecting to this planning application.”

The PC points to a main concern that apart from the danger of combustion under certain circumstances, nitrate could leak in to the water course during flooding. The site of the storage proposal was flooded in December last year.

A petition of 600 names was handed to North Lincolnshire Council when the plans first came to light and, at a subsequent public meeting, PD Ports bosses told upset residents that they too “had a duty of care” to the community.

Coun Trevor Barker said: “I am still hopeful that the company will take people’s views in to account when deciding to go any further with this. There is such strong objection from people around this area.”

PD Ports representatives said strict environmental controls mean danger to the public from the chemical stored in bulk bags, will be minimal. A date has not yet been set for the planning application to be considered by North Lincolnshire Council.

Until May 8 anyone can add their comments on the council’s website.