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Cuadrilla bid for first UK fracking in four years debated Cuadrilla bid for first UK fracking in four years debated
(about 3 hours later)
A bid to start the first fracking operation in the UK for four years will be scrutinised by a council later. An application to start the first fracking operation in the UK for four years is being considered by a council.
Energy firm Cuadrilla wants to extract shale gas at Little Plumpton and Roseacre Wood on the Fylde Coast, in Lancashire.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. The county council is considering 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. Protests were held outside the hearing in Preston where 70 people - for and against fracking - will be speaking.
The application for Little Plumpton was recommended for approval last week, but Roseacre Wood has been recommended for refusal. The application for Little Plumpton was recommended for approval last week, subject to working hours, noise control and highway matters, but Roseacre Wood has been recommended for refusal.
A decision on the former is due on Wednesday. A decision on the former is due on Wednesday following two days of hearings.
'Dirty and dangerous industry'
Peter Watson, who lives near the Preston New Road site in Little Plumpton, told councillors if the application was approved "our health, our quality of life and our property will be disastrously affected."
John Tootill, who runs a nearby farm nursery, claimed it would "destroy our business, way of life, four jobs and our home" and the environment would be contaminated.
On Monday, the council was sent a letter on behalf of 850 elected officials in New York State, urging the authority to block Cuadrilla's application and describing fracking as "a dirty and dangerous industry".On Monday, the council was sent a letter on behalf of 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".Cuadrilla countered that the officials had no knowledge of its applications and should not interfere "in the democratic process".
A further letter was sent to the council from the Upstate New York Towns Association, encouraging them to allow "responsible, modern shale development". A further letter was sent to the council from the Upstate New York Towns Association, encouraging it to allow "responsible, modern shale development".
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. At the hearings at County Hall in Preston, which are expected to last four days in total there was an increase in police patrols.
Ch Supt James Lee said leaflets for the protest had been handed out as far away as London, during the weekend's anti-austerity protest in the capital. Planning officer Stuart Perigo explained why he had recommended the Preston New Road approval.
He declined to confirm how many extra officers would be drafted in, but said the force was preparing for "a big impact on policing". He said fracking would take place over two years with flow testing to continue for a further two years.
'D-Day for fracking' Previously redacted
Steve Becker, BBC Radio Lancashire Mr Perigo said 18,126 representations had been received by the authority by last Friday, with 217 in favour. However, he told the committee that the vast majority of opposition was from "outside the immediate area."
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. By the end of May, just 3,027 out of 18,022 representations received were from within the Fylde area, he said.
Retired management consultant Pat Davies started the Preston New Road Action Group at Little Plumpton primarily to find out more about shale gas extraction. Prior to the application being discussed, councillors voted 12 to three in favour of not deferring the matter until reading a report on the impacts of fracking, which will be published soon, and had previously been redacted.
"I had no idea it would become a full-time campaigning job," she said. "It's harder than being at work!" The document, entitled Shale Gas: Rural Economy Impacts, had several passages obscured when it was published by Defra last summer.
Her home, close to the proposed fracking site, has become campaign HQ for local residents fighting the proposal Last week, the Information Commissioner ordered Defra to publish the document in full by the middle of July after a complaint was received by environmentalists.
There were glum faces there after the recent approval recommendation.
Some members have considered moving house if fracking happens, although there's concern about property values already being affected.
Speaking to BBC Radio Lancashire, he added: "We've got enough numbers out there to make a difference.
"We will scale up to whatever incidents happen on the day. We understand people aren't happy and will gather in numbers, from 500 anywhere up to 2,000.
"Hopefully it will be a peaceful protest."
Buses will be diverted away from Fishergate during the protest.