Lancashire County Council announced this afternoon it has launched the public consultation on the extra information submitted by Cuadrilla for its two planning applications for shale gas development in the Fylde.

The company is applying to drill, frack and test gas flows at up to eight wells across two sites, at Preston New Road, Little Plumpton, and at Roseacre Wood, Roseacre.

The consultation begins today and will run for four weeks until Friday 17^th April.

The county council has given a commitment that it will decide the applications by 30^th April.

The original applications date back to June 2014. In January this year, the county council’s planning officers recommended refusal of the applications on noise and traffic grounds. At a meeting of the development control committee on 28^th January, councillors decided to defer a decision on the applications after Cuadrilla asked to submit further proposals. The company said this would address the concerns raised by the planning officers.

A statement by the council said the further information for the Roseacre Wood site was about noise, traffic, air emissions and visual impact. The extra information for the Preston New Road site related to noise, air emissions and visual impact.

The information will be published on the council’s website, a spokesperson said. It will also be available at libraries in Lytham, St Annes, Ansdell and Kirkham, and at the offices of Fylde Borough Council in Lytham St Annes.

“Following the consultation, the council’s planners will assess the new information and responses to the consultation before making recommendations to the Development Control Committee”, the spokesperson said.

Link to new information