Fencing at Cuadrilla’s controversial former fracking site in Lancashire is being dismantled and removed.

The work, which began yesterday (12 August 2026), appears to be the first stage of the long-awaited restoration of the well pad at Preston New Road, near Blackpool.

Local reports said fencing on two sides of the compound have gone. Contractors’ vehicles have been on the site for two days.

The two Preston New Road shale gas wells were plugged and abandoned last year.

But in December 2025, Cuadrilla was refused more time to restore Preston New Road.

The site has been the subject of planning enforcement action for more than two months because of delays to restoration.

On 8 June 2026, Lancashire County Council announced it had served an enforcement notice requiring the removal of all plant, buildings, security, acoustic fencing, pollution control membranes, aggregates and concerete hardstanding.

The action followed Cuadrilla’s failure to meet an approved restoration timetable.

We understand the official restoration timetable began on 8 July 2026. Cuadrilla had four months, until 8 November 2026, to remove the surface infrastructure. The subsoil must be replaced by 8 December 2026 and the top soil by 8 January 2027.

Preston New Road has been mothballed since August 2019 when operations were suspended after fracking caused a record-breaking 2.9ML earthquake.