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Fracking application rejected by Lancashire county council Fracking application rejected by Lancashire county council
(35 minutes later)
Lancashire county council has rejected a planning application by shale gas explorer Cuadrilla to frack in the county, in a major blow to what would have been the UK’s biggest round of fracking so far.Lancashire county council has rejected a planning application by shale gas explorer Cuadrilla to frack in the county, in a major blow to what would have been the UK’s biggest round of fracking so far.
Anti-fracking campaigners outside the council’s town hall in Preston, where the verdict was announced, reacted with delight and cheers, and people in the chamber applauded. Hundreds of anti-fracking campaigners outside the council’s town hall in Preston, where the verdict was announced, reacted with delight and cheers, and people in the chamber applauded.
Related: Lancashire county council rejects Cuadrilla fracking bidRelated: Lancashire county council rejects Cuadrilla fracking bid
The rejection regards a site at Preston New Road, near Little Plumpton on the Fylde, where Cuadrilla had hoped to drill four wells and undertake exploratory fracking for shale gas. Councillors on the development control committee voted in favour of a motion to reject the application on grounds of visual impact and unacceptable noise, and also rejected a related application for an array to monitor seismic activity. The rejection regards a site at Preston New Road, near Little Plumpton on the Fylde, where Cuadrilla had hoped to drill four wells and undertake exploratory fracking for shale gas.
Nine of the councillors on the 14-strong development control committee voted in favour of a motion to reject the application on grounds of visual impact and unacceptable noise, and also rejected a related application for an array to monitor seismic activity.
The long-delayed decision by councillors follows their rejection last week of a bid by Cuadrilla to frack at another site, Roseacre Wood, between Preston and Blackpool. The Roseacre Wood application was rejected on the grounds of the impact it would have on traffic, rather than the safety or visual impact of the fracking itself.The long-delayed decision by councillors follows their rejection last week of a bid by Cuadrilla to frack at another site, Roseacre Wood, between Preston and Blackpool. The Roseacre Wood application was rejected on the grounds of the impact it would have on traffic, rather than the safety or visual impact of the fracking itself.
Planning officers had earlier this month recommended the council reject Roseacre Wood but approve Preston New Road.Planning officers had earlier this month recommended the council reject Roseacre Wood but approve Preston New Road.
Councillors debating the application were told the grounds for rejection were likely to see it appealed by Cuadrilla, which is the only company to have fracked in the UK to date. The company said it would issue a statement shortly. Councillors said the grounds for refusing the application for a monitoring array at Preston New Road was that it ran contrary to planning policy EP11, in the respect that “the cumulative effect of the proposal would lead to the industrialisation of the countryside and adversely affect the landscape character.”
They were earlier told that rejections were likely to be appealed by Cuadrilla, which is the only company to have fracked in the UK to date. The company said it would issue a statement shortly. Alister Scott, professor of environmental and spatial planning at Birmingham City university said an appeal was certain.
Environmentalists gave the decision a warm welcome.Environmentalists gave the decision a warm welcome.
Furqan Naeem, Friends of the Earth’s north west campaigner, said: “In the teeth of massive pressure from Cuadrilla and Westminster, Lancashire’s brave county councillors have voted to protect their citizens and the local environment – the winners today are democracy and the people of Lancashire. “Both Cuadrilla and the government must respect Lancashire’s decision and not try to force unpopular fracking on these communities. Many polls show that the public wants renewable energy, not fracking – and the clean energy and long term jobs it provides.” Liz Hutchins, a senior campaigner at Friends of the Earth, spoke from outside the town hall where she said the atmosphere was “absolutely electric” and a “massive celebration.”
“This is a bigger win than anyone was expecting, it shows the huge strength of feeling here. There was no way councillors could go against feelings of local people. This is a real blow for Cuadrilla and government.
“Obviously Cuadrilla will try to appeal, and that will go to national planning inspectorate, and we want a commitment from David Cameron that they won’t intervene in the wishes of local people here.”
Daisy Sands, Greenpeace UK energy and climate campaigner, said “This decision is a Waterloo for the fracking industry and a triumph for local democracy.”Daisy Sands, Greenpeace UK energy and climate campaigner, said “This decision is a Waterloo for the fracking industry and a triumph for local democracy.”
The Green party MP Caroline Lucas described the decision as a fantastic victory and said: “The decision proves that, in spite of all the government’s efforts to force through fracking, local communities can prevent it from going ahead.”The Green party MP Caroline Lucas described the decision as a fantastic victory and said: “The decision proves that, in spite of all the government’s efforts to force through fracking, local communities can prevent it from going ahead.”
Around 500 people were protesting outside the town hall, according to organisers.
Several councillors on Monday morning said coming to the decision had been extremely difficult, with one saying it had been “one of the most difficult decisions of our lives”. One member of the committee last week said they had faced intolerable pressure on the case.Several councillors on Monday morning said coming to the decision had been extremely difficult, with one saying it had been “one of the most difficult decisions of our lives”. One member of the committee last week said they had faced intolerable pressure on the case.
David Cameron has said the Conservatives are “going all out for shale”, and the energy and climate secretary Amber Rudd promised after being appointed that she would “deliver shale”.David Cameron has said the Conservatives are “going all out for shale”, and the energy and climate secretary Amber Rudd promised after being appointed that she would “deliver shale”.
Both frontrunners for the leaderships of the Labour party and the Lib Dems support a ban on the controversial technique for extracting shale gas, which involves pumping large volumes of water, sand and chemicals underground to fracture shale rock and release gas.Both frontrunners for the leaderships of the Labour party and the Lib Dems support a ban on the controversial technique for extracting shale gas, which involves pumping large volumes of water, sand and chemicals underground to fracture shale rock and release gas.