Carvers gas tanks bid will hit plans, bosses claim
Plans for a multi-million pound expansion of a chemicals firm to create 500 jobs in South Staffordshire would be scuppered if potentially explosive gas tanks are allowed nearby, developers have claimed.
Liquid petroleum gas tanks legally stored at Carvers Building Supplies in Wolverhampton are in line to be moved to Four Ashes.
But council officers in South Staffordshire have revealed that the SI Group chemical works, which would be neighbour to the tanks if permission is granted, have plans of their own to expand – which would be halted if three gas tanks are moved there, as they would fall within its blast zones. The tanks are being moved following a row between Wolverhampton City
Council and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) that went all the way to the High Court.
In their current position in Little's Lane, the tanks' blast zone covers the £40 million Victoria Halls city centre student village.
The HSE tried to prevent Wolverhampton City Council from granting permission for an as-yet unbuilt fourth block, while the gas tanks also affect the potential redevelopment of the Springfield Brewery site.
Henry Carver, manager director of Carvers, said he hoped to be able to move the tanks as soon as possible. He added: "Nob-ody wants gas tanks on their doorstep but SI Group has a massive area around it. There is no-one living there. The only objection is that this could potentially affect their land value." South Staffordshire Council will vote on the plans next Tuesday.
