Drilling rig arrives at fracking location ‘in the night’

A DRILLING rig to explore for shale gas has arrived at a controversial fracking site in Lancashire in an early-hours operation.

Developer Cuadrilla said it was “very pleased” to take delivery of the equipment, which is set to be fully constructed next month on land at Preston New Road in Little Plumpton, Fylde.

But environmental campaign group Friends of the Earth said the firm had acted “under cover of darkness” in the face of local opposition while anti-fracking protesters from Reclaim the Power later blocked the entrance to the site yesterday.

Francis Egan, chief executive of Cuadrilla, said: “We are very pleased to have taken delivery of the drilling rig to our shale gas exploration site. The drilling of the first horizontal exploration wells into UK shale rock will be an important milestone in unlocking a vital new source of natural gas for the country.

“With the decline of North Sea gas and our ever-increasing reliance on gas imports, including shale gas imported from the US, developing an indigenous source of natural gas is critical for UK energy security, our economy, jobs and the environment.

“We are proud as a Lancashire company to be at the forefront of that effort.”

The site was refused planning permission by Lancashire County Council in 2015, but permission was later granted following an appeal and a planning inquiry.

In April, campaign groups lost a High Court action to overturn the decision. Cuadrilla said it plans this year to drill two of the four horizontal shale gas explorations wells it has permission for.

Polly Steiner of Friends of the Earth said: “Democracy hasn’t counted for much in Lancashire and we won’t just lie down and be a test case for an industry that has been stopped around the UK and the world due to the risks.”