Lancashire County Council has deferred a decision on Cuadrilla’s plans to frack in near Blackpool following a request from the company.

Members of the council’s development control committee voted this morning to postpone their consideration of applications to drill and frack up to eight wells at sites at Preston New Road and Roseacre Wood in the Fylde.

Last Friday, Cuadrilla asked the council to delay its decision after planning officers recommended the applications be refused.

The officers advised the proposed operations at both sites would lead to a significant increase in night time background noise levels. This was likely to have “significant adverse effects on the health and quality of life” of people living nearby.

They also said the application for Roseacre Wood should be refused because lorries going to and from the site would have a “material impact” on road safety and road users.

Cuadrilla challenged the recommendation and promised to appeal if the applications were refused. It later sent extra information about how noise and traffic problems could be dealt with and asked for a deferral. The Daily Telegraph reported that Cuadrilla was willing to spend up to £2.7m at each site to make the operation quieter

A statement from the company said there should be proper consultation on the proposed measures. Opponents of the applications urged the council to go ahead with the decision because they would be calling witnesses who had to travel large distances.

But this morning, the committee meeting in Preston decided on a deferral after hearing legal advice from Ian Young, the County Secretary and solicitor.

A statement by the council said the date at which the committee will reconvene to determine the applications will be published as soon as possible. All those who had registered to make a presentation to the committee will then be offered the opportunity to do so on the revised date.

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