Road safety for routes to Roseacre Wood where Cuadrilla hopes to drill for shale gas comes under the microscope

The company’s plans are being scrutinised over road safety concerns at an ongoing public inquiry taking place at Blackpool Football Club.

In presenting his evidence today, Cuadrilla’s transport consultant David Bird told the inquiry that three routes to the proposed fracking site would ensure the roads were safe for drivers and vulnerable road users.

Mr Bird said: “There will be about 12 HGV movements on each of the routes – six in each direction. That will be less than one an hour. Two Cuadrilla HGVs will not pass, they will be managed so that they will not pass.”

However, Mr Bird also said that in the unlikely event of a crash between two lorries it would be a “low speed glancing accident”. He added: “The likelihood of that being an injury accident is very low.”

But one resident, who lives three miles from Roseacre Wood and is a member of Frack Free Lancashire, was not convinced.

Nick Danby said: “At Preston New Road they had a traffic management plan but I think they are on about the 17th now. To start with they made very similar commitments but since it’s been operational they have slowly but surely changed everything.

“They are talking about the ideal scenario here.”