Caudrilla Appealing Against Lancashire Council Over Fracking Refusal

Fracking has triggered major upheavals across the USA’s oil and gas landscape. And now, the UK is feeling the aftershock. In 2015 developers honed in on Lancashire as a hugely lucrative shale sight, yet plans have been decelerated after the Lancashire County Council refused to give Cuadrilla the green light for projects at Little Plumpton and Roseacre Wood.

The big name energy firm was quick to appeal the council’s decision, which was largely based on concerns over heightened noise and traffic in the local area. The call was made public last year, with both planning applications firmly rejected.

Cuadrilla refuses to back down

But Cuadrilla’s not giving up without a fight. In an inquiry chaired by planning inspector Wendy McKay, the company put forward its dispute, and called for the decision to be reassessed. It claims that after dark noise would be short-lived, and that the project would only affect a handful of residences.

Nathalie Lieven QC, a representative for Cuadrilla asserts that traffic would peak at a maximum of 50 HGV movements a day, for around 12 weeks. "Self-evidently that process is controversial. However, this is not an inquiry into the rights or wrongs of shale gas extraction and how it relates to the UK's climate change obligations," she explained during the inquiry.

McKay has since sent her report to Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. He’s empowered with the final decision, explaining that the proposals put forward by Cuadrilla are "of more than local significance."

Campaigners take on Cuadrilla

Clark is on-track to reach a decision by October 6, with anti-fracking campaigners expected to maintain a fierce presence until the final verdict is handed down. They claim that the process is extremely harmful to the environment, and puts the health of local populations at risk. Made up of both local residents and members of high profile environmental organisations like Friends of the Earth, picketers warn that hydraulic fracturing in the area could trigger earth tremors. This was a major issue encountered at one of Cuadrilla’s previous drilling sites back in 2011, which forced the company to temporarily suspend its operations.

Across the globe, environmental concerns are a keynote issue within the oil and gas industry. ‘FLIR GF320 Thermal Camera Offers Reliable Gas Leak Detection in Biogas Facilities’ looks at recent glitches encountered by biogas facilities in Germany, where methane leaks pose as a significant threat to the environment, as well as employee safety and profits.

Image via Flickr Creative Commons. Photo credits: Victoria Buchan-Dyer