Government gives fracking green light in Lancashire

THE Government has given the go-ahad for fracking at Cuadrill’s site in Lancashire.

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid has today approved plans for shale gas exploration at the Preston New Road site in Little Plumpton.

It’s understood the secretary of state is also minded to approve fracking at a second site in Roseacre, Lancashire subject to highway safety issues being satisfactorily addressed.

For the time being, however, the application has been dimissed.

His decision will overturn the refusal of permission by Lancashire County Council after a tide of local protest.

Lancaster and Fleetwood Labour MP Cat Smith said on Twitter it is “an affront to local democracy” that the government has given the go-ahead to fracking at one of two sites in Lancashire.

Cuadrilla chief executive Frances Egan has sought to reassure anti-fracking campaigners who say the process is harmful to the environment.

He said: “We have been through an exhaustive environmental impact assessment on this – we have assessed everything; noise, traffic, water, emissions, etc.

“The Environment Agency are entirely comfortable with it.These sites will be the most monitored sites probably ever in the history of oil and gas.”

In statement he said: “We are very pleased that we can now move ahead with our shale gas exploration plans which will start to create new economic growth opportunities and jobs for people in Lancashire and the UK.

“As a Lancashire business we are proud that the County will play such a vital role in securing vitally needed home sourced energy.

“We are confident that our operations will be safe and responsible and the comprehensive site monitoring programme planned by regulators and independent academics will in due course conclusively demonstrate this.

“We hope this will reassure the minority of people whom remain sceptical about shale gas exploration. This news has given Lancashire a big vote of confidence in its economic and energy future.”

However Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron, leader of the Liberal Democrats, has slammed the government’s landmark decision saying it shows “contempt” for the local voices which had opposed the move and is an attempt to turn the North West into a “fracking testing ground”.

He said: “The Conservative government has shown its contempt for local voices by over-ruling the clear objections which were made to these plans by the local council. This sets a dangerous precedent. Ministers in Whitehall have decided that the North West should be a fracking testing ground.

“Fracking is not the solution to our energy problems. It is a threat to our countryside and environment, and does nothing to help us tackle climate change. We should be moving towards a low carbon future based on renewable energy, not increasing our reliance on dirty fossil fuels.

“The Liberal Democrats will continue to fight the government’s plans.”

By contrast, the Onshore Energy Services Group (OESG) welcomed the decision.

OESG co-founder Richard Sands said: “We are delighted to hear that, after a five-year pause, shale gas exploration is set to resume in Lancashire, once again creating opportunities for British supply chain SMEs.

“A report by Ernst & Young in 2014 predicted that a successful shale gas industry could one day be responsible for over 64,500 jobs, of which 61% will be in the supply chain.

“We believe that the best way to maximise supply chain job creation is to ensure that small companies – which are much more likely to have to take on and train new people – get a chance to play a big role. We look forward to seeing Cuadrilla Resources develop a supply chain in which small companies from across Lancashire and beyond are given the opportunity to thrive.”

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