Second drilling site for Blackpool gas firm

AN energy company backed by former BP chief executive Lord Browne has been given permission to carry out exploratory drilling at a second site near Blackpool.

Cuadrilla Resources is targeting shale gas trapped 10,000 feet below the surface in the Bowland shale which runs from Pendle Hill near Preston to the Irish Sea.

Yesterday planners at Lancashire County Council approved Cuadrilla’s application to construct a 29m-high drilling platform in a field at Westby, east of Blackpool, and carry out tests for up to six weeks. It already has permission to drill at a site near Weeton outside the town.

The Staffordshire-based company believes Lancashire could potentially provide up to 10% of the UK’s gas supply. The gas was previously considered too expensive to retrieve but new technology has made it more viable.

Although not used in the UK shale gas is common in the US, accounting for 45% of the country’s gas supply.

The development site is within the Lytham Moss proposed biological heritage site and the council concedes Cuadrilla’s plans could have an impact on Whooper Swans. Residents have also expressed concerns about traffic and noise from the site which will be in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In a report prepared ahead of yesterday’s meeting planning officers said: “The development would be of a temporary nature and the impacts of noise, traffic, light pollution and visual impact would be controlled to acceptable levels.

“The site would be restored to its former character and therefore the development is considered acceptable in terms of landscape impacts and there would be no adverse impacts on the proposed Biological Heritage Site.”