A progress report on decommissioning Cuadrilla’s fracking site in Lancashire is late, for the second time.

The six-monthly report was a condition on extending planning permission at the Preston New Road site near Blackpool, granted a year ago.

Cuadrilla was required to produce the most recent update by 7 June 2024. But Lancashire County Council confirmed that the report had not yet been submitted.

A council spokesperson told DrillOrDrop:

“We have not yet received the latest report due from Cuadrilla to advise on progress of the operation to restore the Preston New Road site, however we are currently following this up with them.”

The first report, due on 7 December 2023, was also late.

That report, dated 13 December 2023, set a target of summer 2024 to begin abandoning the wellbores at Preston New Road.

The planning permission requires the wells to be plugged and abandoned by 8 December 2024 and the site restored by 8 June 2025.

Cuadrilla has previously allowed seven months for well decommissioning and six months for site restoration.

Miranda Cox, a local resident and campaigner, said:

“We are disappointed but not at all surprised by Cuadrilla’s consistent tardiness.

“We predicted this at the time Lancashire County Council voted to allow them an extension.

“The community has had years of experience of missed deadlines and breached planning conditions. Until work is completed and the site fully restored, we will be vigilant and continue to monitor any activity, or lack of.”

A spokesperson for the Preston New Road Action Group said:

“It is 12 months since Cuadrilla were granted a two-year extension to their site at Preston New Road, despite objections being raised by local residents.

“These objections were based on Cuadrilla’s history. It would seem that history is now repeating itself.

“There appears to have been no progress at the site over the last 12 months and the required progress report which would let us know what is happening (or not) is late.

“All we can do is hope that Lancashire County Council are using the powers that they have to ensure that Cuadrilla decommission the site over the coming 12 months”.  

DrillOrDrop invited Cuadrilla to explain why the update was late. So far, the company has not responded.

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