County councillors, who threw out similar plans five years ago, say the US company has failed to provide the extra geological data demanded after the 2006 public inquiry into its first set of plans, and failed again to prove the project's safety credentials.

The Canatxx scheme, which has faced huge opposition on both sides of the Wyre estuary, was rejected on a vote of 13 to 1 at yesterday's meeting of the county's development committee.

Councillors were almost unanimous in their criticism of both the plans and the company for the gaps in its application for the riverbank site, which is close to an area dotted with disused former ICI salt workings, some of which have collapsed, leaving 'craters' in farmland in Preesall and Stalmine.

Among the most critical of the scheme were Fleetwood councillors Clive Grunshaw and Stan Leadbetter, who both described the application as "a ticking timebomb."

Coun Grunshaw said: "The lack of information by Canatxx is their fundamental downfall. The site was unstable last time and still is. You cannot change the geology."

Coun Leadbetter, a former Wyre mayor, said: "Canatxx are prepared to push this forward by hook or by crook. You would have thought they would have tried to make their plans more acceptable."

He said Canatxx's public statement before yesterday's meeting that it would appeal in the event of rejection was "a threat, an attempt to intimidate the development control committee" over the costs of a future inquiry.

He added: "We do not trust them."

Coun Paul Hayhurst of Elswick said a Canatxx representative had spoken to councillors at a pre-committee presentation on Monday, telling them that if the plans were rejected it "would cost Lancashire County Council dearly."

Coun Hayhurst said: "If Canatxx use their threat to take us to appeal, we will again be successful."

He added he had been shown around the application site by a Canatxx employee as part of an official site visit to the area. He said the official had spoken of the Wyre estuary as "the only river estuary in Europe which has not been totally developed."

Coun Hayhurst added development of the area for tourism was what he wanted to see as it would ultimately provide more jobs than Canatxx would create.

Coun Bob Mutch of Knott End said: "I hope this time Canatxx get the message 'we don't want you here.'"

He, like other councillors, also raised the spectre of the Abbeystead explosion in the 1980s, saying that the Abbeystead plant had been judged to have been safe by experts.

Coun William Cropper said Canatxx had not provided sufficient data of the geology of estuary, did not know where it was going to site its caverns, was unaware of the area's fault lines, and had not provided a risk assessment. He said there was real concern of a "horrendous scenario if gas were to be ignited."

Coun Peter Mullineaux said it was ridiculous Canatxx had made no mention of emergency evacuation routes in the event of a major incident, and Canatxx was complacent about the death of marine life in Morecambe Bay as a result of pumping out brine from its well creation operations.

Coun Tony Pimblett said he had also spoken to a senior Canatxx official at the company's presentation prior to the committee meeting. He said the official had said he had "no idea" where the existing (former ICI) salt caverns were, or if they were stable or not.

Coun Pimblett continued: "I find that too disturbing for a company that is going to come in and excavate, not knowing what is in the area now.

"I would have thought that a company as big as this would have put some thought into finding out exactly where the fault line is."

Only one councillor took a different line. Coun Michael Devaney of Chorley spoke of the recent cold spell and the diminishing national gas supplies. He suggested the decision on the plans should be put on hold for officials to have talks with Canatxx to sort out safety issues.

Canatxx though was not without its supporters.

In the public section of the meeting Mr Ian Williams, a Canatxx employee said the company wanted to use local firms in developing the gas store plant.

After reminding the committee of the recent concerns over gas supply shortages, he urged councillors to "show moral leadership and not be intimidated by a misinformed minority."

Civil engineering contractor Mr John Guest, whose firm has worked on a similar project in Cheshire, said the Wyre project would provide 250 jobs during construction and 35 permanent jobs once it was constructed.

He warned that if the plan was rejected Canatxx might sell the land, with its valuable salt strata, to Shell, BP, or to the chemical or nuclear fuel industry.

Richard Taylor, a tenant farmer on Canatxx land at Preesall said the company was a good landlord, and better than previous landowners ICI. He said Canatxx was keen to keep facilities for local wildfowlers.

Businessman Fred Smith of Preston, spoke of the rise in gas prices for industry and domestic use, and added: "Our quality of life depends on projects like this."

Groundworks contractor Andy Brough of Nateby said businesses such as his needed the kind of work being offered by Canatxx to survive in tough economic times.

Back Lane, Preesall, resident Jenny Pickersgill said during the previous application there had been 22,000 objections, which had fallen to 8,000 this time round. She said millions would benefit from Canatxx's plans.

Engineering consultant Mr David Evans said the Health and Safety Executive had conducted a risk assessment and had no objections to the scheme on safety grounds.

He said the recent cold spell had been a wake-up call on the nation's gas supply and added: "The Protect Wyre Group should not be allowed to influence our national energy policy."

Other members of the public who spoke in the open section of the meeting were critical of Canatxx.

Mr Ken Penswick of Preesall said part of the plans were on land where there was existing evidence of subsidence and proven unstable ground conditions, which had resulted in the closure of a public footpath on safety grounds.

Mr Stephen Rolland of Poulton Residents' Association spoke of pollution concerns linked to a brine well which former landowner ICI had used to dump tons of mercury sulphide waste. He was worried that the waste could be disturbed and make its way into the river and sea, creating a health hazard.

* Canatxx has also been refused retrospective planning permission for two mineral exploration pads it created near the riverbank as part of its geological tests, as well as hazardous susbstance consent for the overall development.

* Canatxx stated earlier this week it would appeal to the government - prompting a second public inquiry - if the county council refused its plans.