Anti-Fracking demonstrators from across the UK in Preston outside County Hall

A public meeting is to be held in Preston ahead of an inquiry into whether fracking near the city should take place.

Lancashire County Council voted last year to reject attempts by Cuadrilla to drill for shale gas in the countryside between Preston and Blackpool.

The firm has appealed the decision and now a public inquiry is to decide whether the county council’s verdict remains or should be overruled.

Branded ‘Is Westminster planning to force fracking on Lancashire?’ the meeting at Preston Minster is to hear talks from Asad Rehman of Friends of the Earth, county councillor Steven Holgate as well as residents from Preston New Road and Roseacre Wood – both of the sites where Cuadrilla wishes to drill.

The meeting takes place from 7pm on Thursday 4 February. A Facebook event for the meeting has been set up.

The public inquiry into fracking in Lancashire is due to begin on Tuesday 9 February.

Will you be going to the meeting? What do you think about any potential fracking? Let us know your views in the comments below