Lancashire fracking decision imminent

SHALE gas developer Cuadrilla has said it is “confident” the Government will approve plans to frack at Little Plumpton in Lancashire.

Its chief executive Francis Egan said the move would be a “pivotal moment” if Cuadrilla gets the anticipated go-ahead on Thursday (October 6).

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid is expected to announce whether or not he will overrule local councillors and grant the company permission to frack at two sites between Blackpool and Preston.

Cuadrilla’s plans were thrown out by Lancashire County Council in summer 2015, despite one site, Preston New Road, being recommended for approval by local planning officials.

The company’s appeal against the rejections was heard at a public inquiry earlier this year, with the secret verdict of the planning inspector referred to the communities secretary in July.

Egan said on The Telegraph website: “I am confident because we put forward a very strong case to the inquiry, for both applications.

“If it does get approved, these are going to be the first horizontal shale gas wells drilled and tested in the UK, so I think it’s a fairly pivotal moment for the UK shale gas industry. If it doesn’t get approved it’ll be an equally fairly significant moment.”