Wednesday 21 January 2015

Cuadrilla’s fracking plans ‘should be refused’, planners say

Fracking firm Cuadrilla’s application to drill at two sites in Lancashire should be refused, planning officials have recommended.

Lancashire county council planning officers said the company should not be allowed to explore for shale gas at Preston New Road and Roseacre Wood.

They added Cuadrilla has not “satisfactorily demonstrated” that noise impacts would be reduced to acceptable levels at Preston New Road and would therefore “unnecessarily and unacceptably result in harm to the amenity of neighbouring properties by way of noise pollution”.

At the Roseacre Wood site, their 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.

The Environment Agency granted permits to frack at the sites last week.

Councillors are due to make a final decision on the planning application next week.

Cuadrilla said it is "very disappointed" with the recommendation.

A spokesperson added: "After an extraordinarily lengthy period of consultation and review of around seven months we are surprised that, at this late point, the Planning Team at Lancashire County Council has raised objections about background noise for both sites. We believe, supported by independent experts Arup, that we have come forward with measures that would mitigate the noise of drilling and fracturing and the proposed noise levels are within the limits set out in government guidance."