Get fracking Government tells Cuadrilla
THE Government has given the go-ahead for fracking at a site in the North West.
Communities Secretary Sajid Javid has approved plans by former Staffordshire business Cuadrilla to begin shale gas exploration at the Preston New Road site in Little Plumpton.
Mr Javid may also give the go-ahead for a similar operation at a second site in Roseacre, Lancashire subject to highway safety issues being satisfactorily addressed.
For the time being, however, that application has been dismissed.
The Secretary of State’s decision overturns that of Lancashire County Council to refuse permission for the work following strong 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 Francis 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.”
The company, which was founded in 2007 by a small group of British geologists who had met and worked together at Birmingham University, relocated its headquarters from Lichfield to Lancashire last year.
