Cuadrilla bid for first UK fracking in four years debated
23 June 2015
From the section Lancashire
Anti-fracking protesters assembled outside Lancashire County Hall in January
A bid to start the first fracking operation in the UK for four years will be scrutinised by a council later.
Energy firm Cuadrilla wants to extract shale gas at Little Plumpton and Roseacre Wood on the Fylde Coast, in Lancashire.
The county council will meet later to consider the bid, after fracking was suspended in the UK in 2011.
Up to 2,000 people are expected to protest outside the hearing in Preston.
The application for Little Plumpton was recommended for approval last week, but Roseacre Wood has been recommended for refusal.
A decision on the former is due on Wednesday.
‘Big impact’
On Monday, the council was sent a letter signed by 850 elected officials in New York State, urging the authority to block Cuadrilla’s application and describing fracking as “a dirty and dangerous industry”.
Cuadrilla countered that the officials had no knowledge of its applications and should not interfere “in the democratic process”.
Ahead of the hearings at County Hall in Preston, which are expected to last for four days, police are increasing patrols, with officers being brought in from surrounding areas.
‘D-Day for fracking’
Steve Becker, BBC Radio Lancashire
It has taken over four years to get to this stage, since fracking was suspended when it was linked to two earth tremors in Blackpool where Cuadrilla previously drilled.
Retired management consultant Pat Davies started the Preston New Road Action Group at Little Plumpton primarily to find out more about shale gas extraction.
“I had no idea it would become a full-time campaigning job,” she said. “It’s harder than being at work!”
Her home, close to the proposed fracking site, has become campaign HQ for …read more
Source:: BBC world news feed
