Lancashire councillors reject second Cuadrilla fracking application

Members of Lancashire County Council Development Control Committee have voted in favour of refusing an application for a shale gas exploration at Preston New Road, Little Plumpton. The application was made by oil and gas company Cuadrilla. The excavation would involve drilling, hydraulic fracking and testing the flow of gas.

The refusal was made on the grounds of noise and visual impact. The full report is available to read on the Council’s website.

County Councillor Marcus Johnstone, cabinet member for environment, planning and cultural services, and member of the Development Control Committee, said: "This is one of the biggest planning decisions ever put before Lancashire County Council. The development control committee has listened very carefully to many hours of evidence both for and against the proposal, and considered the report of the council's planning officers. The decision to refuse this application has been reached by a vote of the committee, which is composed of elected councillors, and each member of the committee has ultimately cast their vote based on the evidence they have heard and whether they think the proposal is acceptable in planning terms, and to the people they represent."