L.P.G. clean-up urged

Press, 10 April 1981, Page 4

L.P.G. clean-up urged

. The Government must sort out “messy” legislation on liquefied petroleum gas and restore objection rights to residents and local authorities affected by gas pipelines and installations, delegates at the Municipal Association conference decided yesterday. Residents were now denied the right to object to proposed gas pipelines and installations which were often, near their homes, and were concerned about reported dangers from leaking pipes, gas elefuds, and explosions, said the Mayor of Lyttelton, Mr M. E. Foster.

“This sort of thing should be done with the consent of the people affected,” Mr

Foster said. “Imagine what people think of a time bomb sitting on their doorstep.” The main concern was the Petroleum Amendment Act passed’.in December last year, which enabled L.P.G. proposals to circumvent normal town planning hearings required by several other laws, he said. “This legislation is in a real mess,” said a Lyttelton councillor, Mrs M. J..Creteny. “About 10 different bits of legislation are affected.. The Municipal Association should go to the Government and tell them to sort it out.” The Mayor of Eastbourne, Mrs E. M. Jakobsson, said that an L.P.G. tanker wharf

was sited on the borough’s boundary, and the pipeline ran along the only road to the borough. “As the most affected local body we have no right to comment on the installation because the act does not give rights of objection,” said Mrs Jakobsson. Delegates instructed, the associations. national executive to take up public objections and town planniiig hearings with the Government. A national association will be made of L.P.G. installations, covering transport, storage, and retailing of the gas.