Councillors have unanimously refused a planning application for fracking in Lancashire in a move which has been welcomed by environmental campaigners.



Lancashire County Council’s development control committee turned down Cuadrilla’s application to explore for shale gas by drilling, hydraulically fracking and testing the flow of gas at Roseacre Wood, Roseacre, between Preston and Blackpool.

The vote on Thursday was in line with recommendations by planning officials who said it should be turned down because it would cause an increase in traffic which would result in “an unacceptable impact” on rural roads and reduce road safety.

#LancsDevCC has voted to refuse the application to hydraulically frack and test for shale gas at Roseacre Wood because of impact on traffic. — lancashire.gov.uk (@LancashireCC) June 25, 2015

The committee has yet to reach a decision on a second proposal at Fylde, Lancashire, at Preston New Road, Little Plumpton, which planning officers have recommended should go ahead.

The decision on Preston New Road has been deferred to Monday.

Marcus Johnstone, cabinet member for environment, planning and cultural services, and a member of the development control committee, said: “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 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.”

Friends of the Earth north west campaigner Furqan Naeem said: “This is a tremendous victory for local people and everyone across Lancashire and the UK who have been tirelessly highlighting the risks fracking poses to their quality of life and the climate.

“But the fracking threat still hangs ominously over the community near Preston New Road.

“Poll after poll shows people want renewables, not fracking – and the clean energy and long-term jobs they would provide.

“Lancashire councillors must put local people and our environment first and reject Cuadrilla’s controversial application when they meet next Monday.”

#LancsDevCC meeting will resume on Monday 29 June at 10am to continue consideration of the Preston New Road, Little Plumpton applications. — lancashire.gov.uk (@LancashireCC) June 25, 2015

In a statement, shale company Cuadrilla said: “We are disappointed but not surprised that Lancashire County Council’s development control committee has denied planning consent for our application at Roseacre Wood as their decision follows a negative recommendation by the council’s planning officers.

“We are committed to the responsible exploration and development of the huge quantity of natural gas locked up in the shale rock deep underneath Lancashire.

“We will now take time to consider our options, including our right to appeal.”