A landmark decision on whether fracking projects can begin in Lancashire has been delayed by the county council, after a late bid by firm Cuadrilla.
Planning officers at Lancashire County Council last week recommended rejecting applications by shale gas company Cuadrilla to drill two test wells in the region, over fears of traffic noise and congestion.
Yet members of the town hall’s development control committee have now deferred passing a decision on the plans after the firm submitted revised proposals, which have been opened to public consultation.
Committee chair, Cllr Munsif Dad, said: ‘During the meeting members heard legal advice that supported the request for deferral, which will enable time for consultation on the new information provided by the applicant.
‘We will reconvene as soon as we can to consider the decisions in light of the new information when it is presented to the committee. Everyone who has registered to speak for or against the applications will be invited back to do so at that time. Clearly as the planning applications remain live the council is unable to comment further at this stage.’
A spokesperson for Cuadrilla said: ‘The additional information we have provided on further mitigation measures will, we believe, fully address the noise and traffic concerns raised.
‘There will now be an opportunity for the public to properly review and comment on this.’
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.
‘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.’
The news came after MPs called for a halt on fracking in the UK amid fears that burning shale gas could hamper efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
