Lancashire County Council has today (Wednesday 28 January) deferred the decisions on fracking firm Cuadrilla’s two planning applications in the county. The much-delayed planning decisions were due to be discussed and decided upon over the next three days after the council’s planning officers recommended they were refused last week. Cuadrilla subsequently announced that it was requesting a deferral and Lancashire councillors today ceded to that request.
Responding to the news, Friends of the Earth’s North West campaigner Helen Rimmer said:
“We are disappointed that Councillors have granted a deferral when Cuadrilla have had several months to present their case, which Lancashire’s planning officers have found to be unacceptable.
“While a further delay is another setback for Cuadrilla – its manipulation of the planning system has created more uncertainty for communities whose health and environment are at risk from controversial fracking.
“Lancashire council must resist Cuadrilla’s ploys to push fracking through and listen to the tens of thousands of voices of opposition and reject these plans. Failure to do so will leave Lancashire as the UK’s guinea pig for this unnecessary and polluting technology.”
ENDS
For press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.
