Gillingham MP Paul Clark has launched an online petition in a bid to block plans to store 2,500 tonnes of potentially explosive material near a major residential area.

Arecelor Mittal Kent Wire has asked Medway Council for permission to store ammonium nitrate at Chatham Docks.

In a letter sent to people living in the immediate area he implores the Council to reject the plan.

He said:"I have launched an online petition for residents to sign and oppose this development via my website.

"I want to sent a very clear message to the Council and the company involved that we in Gillingham and Rainham do not want to be living with the risk of a deadly explosion on our doorstep."

The Medway Messenger reported last month concern from neighbours about a perceived lack of consultation.

Sarah Weller of Augusta Close, only found out about the plans after a neighbour put a note through her door.

It arrived days before a deadline for objections to the Pier Road plans, close to hundreds of homes and the new Medway Police station.

She said:"It's not something you want on your doorstep.

"We live so close to the docks. We should have been informed of the plans."

Medway Council posted a site notice about the application on April 21 and put notices in the local press on April 23, but gave only a week for public comments.

MP Paul Clark, said: “Public consultation has been virtually non existent.”

“It leaves people with the feeling that there is something to hide.

“This is an area where a lot of people live and work.”

A spokesman for Medway Council said the permit was a technical application subject to legislation specifically dealing with hazardous substances.

He said:"Expert advice will be sought before a decision is made"

Although safe under normal conditions, ammonium nitrate can become volatile if mixed with other chemicals or if it overheats.

At Toulouse in France 300 tons of the chemical exploded in 2001, killing about 30 people and leaving 500 homes uninhabitable.

*Cllr Reh Chishti, Rainham ward councillor and Tory parliamentary rival to Mr Clark revealed last night that he would also be fighting the application.

He is planning to collect signatures for his own petition.

See Friday's Medway Messenger for a special report into the dock store proposals

What do you think? Join the debate. Email medwaymessenger@thekmgroup.co.uk or add your views to the SpeakOut below.