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Cuadrilla wins partial backing for Lancashire fracking Cuadrilla wins partial backing for Lancashire fracking
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Fracking should go ahead at a site in Lancashire, council planning officers recommended on Monday. But permission should be refused at a second site due to a “severe” impact on road safety caused by heavy lorries.Fracking should go ahead at a site in Lancashire, council planning officers recommended on Monday. But permission should be refused at a second site due to a “severe” impact on road safety caused by heavy lorries.
Lancashire has been at the forefront of the UK’s nascent shale gas industry, an issue that has divided opinion in the county. Cuadrilla have applied to carry out the country’s first full-scale fracking at Roseacre Wood and Preston New Road. Councillors will vote on whether to accept the planning officers’ recommendations on 23 and 25 June.Lancashire has been at the forefront of the UK’s nascent shale gas industry, an issue that has divided opinion in the county. Cuadrilla have applied to carry out the country’s first full-scale fracking at Roseacre Wood and Preston New Road. Councillors will vote on whether to accept the planning officers’ recommendations on 23 and 25 June.
Small earthquakes caused by Cuadrilla’s activity in 2011 saw a moratorium put in place. Once it was lifted, the company submitted plans for up to four wells at each of the two sites. Each site would see hundreds of fracks – the high pressure injection of water, sand and chemicals – to test how much gas can be released. However, planning offices recommended the proposals be rejected in January on the basis of night-time noise and heavy traffic, leading Cuadrilla to submit new plans.Small earthquakes caused by Cuadrilla’s activity in 2011 saw a moratorium put in place. Once it was lifted, the company submitted plans for up to four wells at each of the two sites. Each site would see hundreds of fracks – the high pressure injection of water, sand and chemicals – to test how much gas can be released. However, planning offices recommended the proposals be rejected in January on the basis of night-time noise and heavy traffic, leading Cuadrilla to submit new plans.
A spokeswoman for Cuadrilla said the company was pleased its noise reduction plan, cutting night-time noise by 3dB, had been backed by the planners. But she said Cuadrilla was disappointed that a revised traffic plan for Roseacre Wood had not been supported.A spokeswoman for Cuadrilla said the company was pleased its noise reduction plan, cutting night-time noise by 3dB, had been backed by the planners. But she said Cuadrilla was disappointed that a revised traffic plan for Roseacre Wood had not been supported.
“The alternative route suggested met with all necessary guidelines in our view,” she said. “We will await the councillors’ decisions on both these applications.”“The alternative route suggested met with all necessary guidelines in our view,” she said. “We will await the councillors’ decisions on both these applications.”
The Roseacre Wood traffic plan would see a peak of 50 journeys a day by heavy goods vehicles. The planning officers report said: “It would generate an increase in traffic, particularly HGV movements, that would result in an unacceptable impact on the rural highway network and on existing road users, particularly vulnerable road users and a reduction in overall highway safety that would be severe.”The Roseacre Wood traffic plan would see a peak of 50 journeys a day by heavy goods vehicles. The planning officers report said: “It would generate an increase in traffic, particularly HGV movements, that would result in an unacceptable impact on the rural highway network and on existing road users, particularly vulnerable road users and a reduction in overall highway safety that would be severe.”
The planning officers said they were satisfied with Cuadrilla’s plans for drilling and fracking and also with measures relating to air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, earthquakes, water use and visual aspects.The planning officers said they were satisfied with Cuadrilla’s plans for drilling and fracking and also with measures relating to air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, earthquakes, water use and visual aspects.
Friends of the Earth’s north-west campaigner Furqan Naeem said: “We are disappointed that planning officers have not recognised the unacceptable impact that Cuadrilla’s plans to frack at Preston New Road would have on local people, climate change and the environment. The council must now listen to the tens of thousands of people who have objected to fracking at both sites ... and reject both of Cuadrilla’s proposals to frack.”Friends of the Earth’s north-west campaigner Furqan Naeem said: “We are disappointed that planning officers have not recognised the unacceptable impact that Cuadrilla’s plans to frack at Preston New Road would have on local people, climate change and the environment. The council must now listen to the tens of thousands of people who have objected to fracking at both sites ... and reject both of Cuadrilla’s proposals to frack.”
David Cameron has said the government is “going all out” for fracking in the UK, claiming it would create jobs and cut the country’s reliance on gas imports. But opponents argue it risks health and environmental impacts and undermines efforts to tackle climate change. A moratorium on fracking has been declared in Scotland and the Welsh assembly has indicated it will do the same. A spokesman for the North West Energy Task Force, a coalition of businesses whose administration costs are paid by Cuadrilla, said: “The [backing for one fracking site] is potentially good news for job creation and investment. However, if the region is to get the maximum benefit from its shale gas reserves it still needs to establish itself as a hub for the industry.”
David Cameron has said the government is “going all out” for fracking in the UK, claiming it would create jobs and cut the country’s reliance on gas imports. But opponents argue it risks health and environmental impacts and undermines efforts to tackle climate change.
A moratorium on fracking has been declared in Scotland and the Welsh assembly has indicated it will do the same. The European Parliament voted for a fracking moratorium on 10 June, although the vote ended up being largely symbolic.
The UK fracking industry also faces uncertainty until the government clarifies the scope of regulation changes passed just before the general election. If a ban on fracking in “protected areas” includes groundwater protection zones, where drinking water is collected, it could rule out 40% of the land being offered for shale gas exploration in England.