Second day of inquiry into Cuadrilla's plans to frack for shale gas at Roseacre Wood in the Fylde is underway

The second day of a public inquiry is underway into Cuadrilla's plans to frack for shale gas at Roseacre Wood in the Fylde.
Second day of inquiry into Cuadrillas plans to frack for shale gas at Roseacre Wood in the Fylde is underwaySecond day of inquiry into Cuadrillas plans to frack for shale gas at Roseacre Wood in the Fylde is underway
Second day of inquiry into Cuadrillas plans to frack for shale gas at Roseacre Wood in the Fylde is underway

Yesterday saw those giving evidence discuss the potential impact of HGVs servicing the drilling site.

The inquiry, held at Blackpool Football Club, is expected to last for three weeks.

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It is focusing on a revised transport plan and not the issue of fracking itself.

Planning inspector Melvyn Middleton is only considering the highway implications of the scheme after Communities Secretary Sajid Javed said he would be ‘minded to allow’ fracking if a suitable transport management plan could be devised.

Cuadrilla already has permission to drill for shale gas at its Preston New Road site, in Little Plumpton, and has completed drilling the first horizontal well.

In 2015 Lancashire County Council had rejected Cuadrilla's Roseacre Wood fracking bid because it would increase traffic, particularly with the number of HGVs.

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Yesterday Cuadrilla said that three alternative routes to the site would ensure highway safety is maintained.

But critics argued that the changes proposed would still not be enough to reduce the impact on the rural community, putting in danger vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.

As the inquiry continues, keep checking www.lep.co.uk for updates.