Lancashire residents opposed to fracking gathered in Blackpool today (11 March ) as the inquiry into fracking at two sites in the Fylde neared its close.
Today was the penultimate day at the six week appeal by Cuadrilla against Lancashire County Council’s refusal of permission for fracking at Roseacre Wood and Preston New Road. Closing submissions were heard from Preston New Road Action Group and North West Friends of the Earth – opposing fracking – alongside Cuadrilla supporters the North West Lancashire Chamber of Commerce.
Pat Davies from Preston New Road group said:
“We have been fully present throughout the last five weeks of the Inquiry to ensure that at all times the Inspector was made aware of the strength of public opposition to this appeal.
“Lancashire has spoken and the decision has been made by the most appropriate authority, our elected local planning council.
“We rely on the inspector to again assess the evidence including new evidence on unacceptable noise and severe visual impacts, and propose to the Secretary of State dismissal. This decision must not be overturned, and we will not stop until we obtain justice for our community.
“The voice of this community must and will be heard.”
Barbara Richardson from Roseacre Awareness Group said:
“Over the last five weeks we have presented expert, professional testimony on fracking impacts including noise, traffic, landscape, recreation and amenity, aswell as heard over a hundred community members speak against fracking. It has been very obvious that there is huge opposition from residents, local businesses and politicians.
“Our future should not lie in the hands of a Westminster politician, Greg Clark, who knows little of our community or the social and economic situation in Lancashire, and has already revealed his support for fracking.
“We believe in local democracy and call on Greg Clark to honour the wishes of our community and councils and send Cuadrilla packing.”
The inquiry concludes on Wednesday 16 March, with closing statements from Roseacre Awareness Group, Lancashire County Council and Cuadrilla. Communities opposing the plans will gather from 1.30pm outside Blackpool FC to show their united opposition to fracking, and appreciation for Roseacre Wood and Preston New Road residents who have dedicated themselves to the inquiry and the fight for a frack free Lancashire.
NOTES
The evidence heard over the last five weeks includes:
Lancashire County Council’s highways officer Neil Stevens told the inquiry that traffic to Roseacre Wood was underestimated and the roads unsuitable, and that “safe and suitable access cannot be achieved”. (1)
Dr Andrew McKenzie, a noise witness for Lancashire County Council, said that operations at Preston New Road would cause unacceptable noise impacts for residents living near the site, and could cause annoyance, stress and sleep disturbance. (2)
Alan Watson a waste expert and engineer giving evidence for Friends of the Earth, told the inquiry that Cuadrilla had significantly underestimated the impact of flowback waste and the ability to treat it, and found a discrepancy in planning documents showing volumes of wastewater could be four-fold what Cuadrilla had stated. (3)
Professor Kevin Anderson from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change said that carbon emissions from the two sites were equivalent to 18 months car travel in the Fylde, and it would be “irresponsible” to explore for its own sake when production would be impossible within the UK’s carbon budgets.(4)
The inquiry also heard from dozens of residents near the Preston New Road site (5) and Roseacre Wood (6) including a passionate speech from 13 year old Morgan Marshall.(7)
Refs
1.http://drillordrop.com/2016/02/23/top-10-points-about-traffic-at-roseacre-wood-cuadrilla-fracking-inquiry-day-9/
2.http://drillordrop.com/2016/02/23/top-10-points-on-noise-at-preston-new-road-cuadrilla-fracking-inquiry-day-9/
3.http://drillordrop.com/2016/02/26/top-10-points-on-waste-cuadrilla-fracking-inquiry-day-12/
4.http://drillordrop.com/2016/02/26/top-10-points-on-climate-change-cuadrilla-fracking-inquiry-day-11/
5.http://drillordrop.com/2016/02/25/cuadrilla-fracking-inquiry-day-11-what-opponents-said-about-preston-new-road/
6.http://drillordrop.com/2016/02/17/first-evening-session-of-cuadrillas-fracking-inquiry-the-opponents/
7.https://investigatingbalcombeandcuadrilla.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/morgan.pdf
