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| Cuadrilla fracking applications: Lancashire County Council defer decision | Cuadrilla fracking applications: Lancashire County Council defer decision |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A decision on whether to allow fracking in Lancashire has been deferred by county councillors following a request from energy firm Cuadrilla. | A decision on whether to allow fracking in Lancashire has been deferred by county councillors following a request from energy firm Cuadrilla. |
| The firm had applied to extract shale gas at its sites in Little Plumpton and Roseacre Wood, near Blackpool. | The firm had applied to extract shale gas at its sites in Little Plumpton and Roseacre Wood, near Blackpool. |
| But Lancashire County Council planners recommended rejecting the application due to noise and traffic problems. | But Lancashire County Council planners recommended rejecting the application due to noise and traffic problems. |
| It was due to be discussed by councillors, but has now been deferred by eight weeks. | It was due to be discussed by councillors, but has now been deferred by eight weeks. |
| The council's chief legal adviser Ian Young said it would be "unlawful" for the planning development control committee to vote against a deferral. | The council's chief legal adviser Ian Young said it would be "unlawful" for the planning development control committee to vote against a deferral. |
| He said: "If the committee were not to accept my advice, then in my view the applicant would have clear grounds for a legal challenge. | |
| "The legal challenge would inevitably be successful, leading to both further delay and cost consequences." | |
| He said Cuadrilla had provided "substantial additional information" to its applications, which require further public consultation. | He said Cuadrilla had provided "substantial additional information" to its applications, which require further public consultation. |
| Councillors voted 13-1 in favour of deferring the applications, with one committee member abstaining. | |
| The council's report suggested applying a further sound barrier around drilling rigs and diverting HGVs to the RAF Inskip site to avoid site traffic. | The council's report suggested applying a further sound barrier around drilling rigs and diverting HGVs to the RAF Inskip site to avoid site traffic. |
| Cuadrilla then asked for a deferral to address concerns. | |
| A spokeswoman for Cuadrilla said: "The additional information we have provided on further mitigation measures will, we believe, fully address the noise and traffic concerns raised. | |
| "There will now be an opportunity for the public to properly review and comment on this." | |
| Chairman of the committee Munsif Dad said everyone who registered to speak for or against the applications will be invited back to the next meeting. | |
| The committee was due to start a two-day hearing on fracking at the Preston New Road site, Little Plumpton. | The committee was due to start a two-day hearing on fracking at the Preston New Road site, Little Plumpton. |
| Fracking - or hydraulic fracturing - is a technique in which water and chemicals are pumped into shale rock at high pressure to extract gas. | Fracking - or hydraulic fracturing - is a technique in which water and chemicals are pumped into shale rock at high pressure to extract gas. |
| Friends of the Earth's North West campaigner Helen Rimmer said: "We are disappointed that councillors have granted a deferral when Cuadrilla have had several months to present their case, which Lancashire's planning officers have found to be unacceptable. | |
| "Lancashire council must resist Cuadrilla's ploys to push fracking through and listen to the tens of thousands of voices of opposition and reject these plans. | |
| "Failure to do so will leave Lancashire as the UK's guinea pig for this unnecessary and polluting technology." |