Ruth Hayhurst
Investigative journalist and environmental writer. Specialising in UK onshore oil and gas, fracking and the reaction to it.
Fracking refusal: What the councillors said about the vote on Preston New Road
Cllr Paul Hayhurst, Independent County Councillor, Fylde West, member of development control committee Last week we were put under intense pressure which was giving us no option but to approve the application. We had further information over the weekend and we have been able to turn it down. […]
Fracking refusal: What the supporters of Preston New Road said
Cuadrilla, the operator of the proposed sites We are surprised and disappointed that Lancashire County Council’s Development Control Committee has denied planning consent for our application to explore for shale gas at Preston New Road, particularly as their decision follows a positive recommendation by the Council’s Planning Officers. […]
Fracking refusal: What the opponents of Preston New Road said
Pat Davies, Preston New Road Residents’ Group “Absolutely ecstatic. The community can breathe again. This has had a huge impact on peoples’ lives. We are delighted the committee have spent enough time considering this. I am delighted that Cllr Green was the voice of reason. We also owe […]
Fylde fracking bid stalls as committee refuses Cuadrilla’s application – full story from the committee
Cuadrilla’s bid to frack in the Fylde stalled today as Lancashire County Councillors refused a second planning application. In a wider margin than expected, the council’s development control committee voted by nine to three with two abstentions to reject the scheme to drill, frack and test up to […]
Cuadrilla considers appeals on fracking refusals
Cuadrilla says it will consider an appeal against the refusal of planning permission this morning for its proposed fracking site and a monitoring array at Preston New Road in Lancashire. In a statement the company said it would also consider appeals against refusals for sites at Roseacre Wood and […]
“The community can breathe again”
Minutes after the decision to refuse fracking and monitoring schemes for Little Plumpton, Pat Davies chair of the Preston New Road Action Group said: “The community can breathe again”.
Breaking: Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road fracking plans refused
Opponents of Cuadrilla’s plans to frack at Preston New Road greeted the decision to refuse the application with cheers and tears of relief. The council’s development control committee voted by nine to three with two abstentions to refuse the plans. The planning officer, Stuart Perigo, had recommended approval of […]
Cuadrilla’s fracking decision for Preston New Road – updates as they happen
Keep in touch here with what’s happening at the Lancashire County Council committee that is deciding Cuadrilla’s application to frack at Preston New Road. Updates as they happen. 12.15 The cabinet member for planning, Cllr Marcus Johnson, who voted against refusal, said he stood by the decision of […]
Groups publish rival legal opinions on Preston New Road fracking plans
A second barrister has confirmed that Lancashire councillors could refuse Cuadrilla’s plans to frack up to four wells at Preston New Road – and defend the decision if it went to appeal. But the organisation representing the onshore oil and gas industry has said its barrister has backed […]
DRILL OR DROP? 