RESIDENTS and the National Grid face an anxious wait to discover if a controversial gas plant will be built at Corse.

A planning inquiry into a proposed pressure reduction installation as part of a new pipeline carrying 20 per cent of the UK's natural gas concluded at Corse and Staunton Village Hall on Friday, May 18.

Planning inspectors Kenneth Smith and David Gray heard closing statements from National Grid, the Forest of Dean District Council, and residents group CAPRI, and expect to submit their report by August 17.

Representing CAPRI, Sebastian Head said National Grid appeared psychologically committed to building at Corse, and had only investigated one per cent of the area where the facility could be built.

He said insufficient consideration had been given to building on the site of an existing installation at Wormington, near Evesham, where there would be less impact on residents, the countryside, and the environment.

"National Grid's plans are in no fit state for it to be entitled to cause permanent harm to the intrinsic character of this much-treasured corner of the English countryside," he said. "They are ill-thought out, highly presumptuous and have not begun to show that it is necessary for this location."

He added the public-safety risk and threat of terrorist attack made building the facility at Corse an obvious mistake.

Peter Wadsley, representing the council, said the installation would not keep with local development plans protecting the countryside.

He said Wormington would be a better option despite being more expensive.

"Passing on that burden of cost to consumers is entirely appropriate," he said. "There is no reason why the burden should fall on one locality, and every reason why it should be shared nationally."

For National Grid, David Holgate said the proposal was vital in the face of declining gas supplies.

He said both environmental and cost factors had been considered, and that there would be no significant impact on local properties.

He added the safety risk was not unacceptable, and that National Grid had considered alternative sites even though it had no legal obligation to do so.

"If we try and extend the pipeline to Wormington then all the arguments we have had here would be raised by people there, saying that the risk in Corse would be less," he said.