Cuadrilla requests deferral of Lancashire fracking decision
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Version 0 of 1. The shale gas company Cuadrilla has asked a council to defer a decision on whether to allow two new fracking sites in Lancashire. Planning officers recommended that Lancashire county council should refuse Cuadrilla permission to explore for shale gas at two sites between Preston and Blackpool due to the noise and traffic the work would cause. The council’s development control committee had been due to make a decision on the proposed sites next week. Cuadrilla has written to the committee with details of measures to address the noise and traffic concerns, and asked for the decision to be deferred so the information can be properly considered. The planning officers said the noise from the 24-hour drilling operations would “unnecessarily and unacceptably” affect properties neighbouring the sites at Preston New Road, near Little Plumpton, and Roseacre Wood, near Roseacre. At the Roseacre Wood site, the report said, there would be an increase in traffic, particularly heavy goods vehicles, which would result in an unacceptable impact on rural roads and reduce road safety. Cuadrilla said in a statement: “Lessening the impact of our proposed operations on local residents is important to us.” As a result, the company said, it had written to the committee outlining mitigation measures on noise and traffic. “The detail of this additional mitigation requires proper consultation and planning regulations clearly require this. We have therefore also requested a deferral in the determination of our planning applications to allow for this to consultation to take place.” |