Fracking in Lancashire: Future of two Cuadrilla sites near Preston to be decided by end of January

Cuadrilla has been exploring shale gas options in Lancashire

Two controversial applications on fracking on the outskirts of Preston are to be given more time for consultation.

More than 11,000 responses have already been received regarding Cuadrilla’s proposals for Preston New Road at Little Plumpton and Roseacre Wood.

Lancashire County Council says it has negotiated an extension for the Little Plumpton site which takes it to 31 January 2015 for a decision, the same day as Roseacre Wood was moved back to. It was previously agreed the Little Plumpton site would be decided by 31 December 2014.

A statement from the county council said: “The new determination date for the Preston New Road site will allow time for any representations on the further information for both sites to be considered and addressed in the reports to be presented to the Development Control Committee when the applications are determined.”

The new period of consultation begins from Thursday 27 November to Friday 19 December.

Cuadrilla is applying to drill, frack and test gas flows – as well as install environmental monitoring at the two sites in Lancashire.

The county council says it will be publishing consultation information on its website and also distributing it to libraries across the Fylde.

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