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Cuadrilla appeal over Lancashire fracking refusal begins Cuadrilla appeal over Lancashire fracking refusal
(35 minutes later)
A bid to overturn a decision to refuse fracking at two sites in Lancashire has begun. An energy firm appealing against a decision to refuse fracking said the inquiry was not about the "rights or wrongs" of shale gas extraction.
Energy firm Cuadrilla launched at appeal after permission to extract shale gas at sites in Little Plumpton and Roseacre Wood was turned down. Cuadrilla was refused permission to extract shale gas at the sites in Little Plumpton and Roseacre Wood.
Lancashire County Council rejected both planning applications on the grounds of noise and traffic impact. Lancashire County Council rejected both planning applications last year on the grounds of noise and traffic impact.
A public inquiry is being held at Blackpool Football Club's conference suite following last year's refusal. Cuadrilla disputed those reasons at the inquiry in Blackpool, but the council said it was "democracy in action".
Fracking - or hydraulic fracturing - was suspended in the UK in 2011 following earth tremors in Blackpool, where Cuadrilla previously drilled.
Nathalie Lieven QC, representing Cuadrilla, told the public inquiry that night-time noise would be short and would affect just a handful of homes.
At Roseacre the traffic would be a maximum of 50 HGV movements a day for 12 weeks, she said.
"Self-evidently that process is controversial. However, this is not an inquiry into the rights or wrongs of shale gas extraction and how it relates to the UK's climate change obligations," Ms Lieven said.
"Ultimately these are proposed developments where the government has stated that there is a national need, and where the planning impacts are very limited," she said.
The hearing at Blackpool Football Club's conference suite was told the council turned down the planning application at Little Plumpton against the advice of planning officials.
Alan Evans, representing Lancashire County County, suggested that was "local democracy in action".
Cuadrilla's appeal is being heard by the planning inspector and is expected to last five weeks.Cuadrilla's appeal is being heard by the planning inspector and is expected to last five weeks.
The government has decided Communities Secretary Greg Clark will make the final decision because the proposals are "of more than local significance".The government has decided Communities Secretary Greg Clark will make the final decision because the proposals are "of more than local significance".
Fracking - or hydraulic fracturing - was suspended in the UK in 2011 following earth tremors in Blackpool, where Cuadrilla previously drilled.
During the hearing, Nathalie Lieven QC, representing Cuadrilla, said: "Self-evidently that process is controversial. However, this is not an inquiry into the rights or wrongs of shale gas extraction and how it relates to the UK's climate change obligations."
She said night-time noise would be short and would affect just a handful of homes and at Roseacre the traffic would be a maximum of 50 HGV movements a day for 12 weeks.
"Ultimately these are proposed developments where the government has stated that there is a national need, and where the planning impacts are very limited."
Alan Evans, representing Lancashire County County, said that the local authority had turned down the planning application at Little Plumpton against the advice of planning officials, which he suggested was "local democracy in action".
Ahead of the hearing, pro and anti-fracking protesters gathered outside the football club.Ahead of the hearing, pro and anti-fracking protesters gathered outside the football club.
Jasber Singh, from Frack Free Lancashire, said: "We are not going to gain anything from fracking apart from air, noise, land and water pollution that's bad for our health and the health of the climate."Jasber Singh, from Frack Free Lancashire, said: "We are not going to gain anything from fracking apart from air, noise, land and water pollution that's bad for our health and the health of the climate."
In London, Greenpeace activists installed a life-like 33ft (10m) fracking rig and drill at Parliament Square as a protest to coincide with the first day of the inquiry in Lancashire.In London, Greenpeace activists installed a life-like 33ft (10m) fracking rig and drill at Parliament Square as a protest to coincide with the first day of the inquiry in Lancashire.
The move has prompted the term #Frackminster to trend on Twitter.The move has prompted the term #Frackminster to trend on Twitter.