PROPOSALS for a second gas storage plant have been submitted to council bosses.

And this week the company behind the development declined to comment on fears about the safety of fuel depots following the explosion at Buncefield oil depot at Hemel Hempstead.

INEOS Enterprises submitted its application for planning permission for the 28-cavity facility and compression station at Stublach Grange Farm, at Holford Brinefields to the north of Drakelow Lane, to Cheshire County Council on Friday.

The site is between Lach Dennis and Byley, not far from E.ON UK's own gas storage plant which was given the go-ahead last year.

An environmental statement prepared in consultation with the county council and residents addresses the possible environmental impacts of the proposed facility, during construction and operation, and the measures that will be adopted to minimise such impacts.

Greg Stewart, operations director of Ineos Enterprises, an offshoot of Ineos Chlor, said: 'Recent media reports about gas prices and security of supply in the UK have clearly demonstrated the need for the UK to invest in its own gas storage capability.'

He said Cheshire's geology makes it one of few places suitable to store gas underground.

The proposals have shocked community leaders and outraged those that fought the Byley development.

Northwich East Cty Cllr George Mainwaring said: 'I hope the fight against this development gets as much support as Residents Against the Plant (RAP) managed in its fight against the gas plant at Byley.

'Having two plants next to each other in a small area presents double the risk of Hemel Hempstead, and could be problem.'

RAP spokesman Dr John Edwards said recently that the development would 'despoil rural England, bring unknown and unquantifiable risk to Cheshire, and - if like the Byley plant - use technology that has resulted in at least one catastrophic explosion. It is greed not need.'

An Ineos Enterprises spokesman refused to comment on the safety of the proposed plant, but said if approved the facility could be operational by 2009.