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Fracking testing to be carried across North West

Shale gas extraction company Cuadrilla plans to carry out ‘fracking’ tests at two sites in Lancashire - near Roseacre and Little Plumpton, between Blackpool and Preston.

This is the first time a shale gas explorer will seek permission for ‘fracking’ – extraction of gas via hydraulic fracturing - since the lifting in December 2012 of an 18-month ban on the controversial practice.

This was imposed after Cuadrilla caused two earth tremors while carrying out test procedures near Preston in 2011. And more ‘fracking’ tests are to be carried out in Cheshire.

TESLA Exploration International Ltd has informed Warrington Borough Council of its intention to carry out ‘three dimensional seismic survey’ work.

The testing, which has to take place before any extraction of shale gas by the process of hydraulic fracturing or ‘fracking’, would be carried out in the Glazebury area, between the East Lancs road and the M62 motorway.

The survey work, on behalf of IGas Energy PLC, is intended to form part of IGas’s ongoing appraisal of the potential to extract hydrocarbon, in the form of shale gas, from the ground.

Similar tests are taking place across the country, with large scale protests ongoing at the Barton Moss site in Manchester.

Warrington Borough Council’s development manager Daniel Hartley said: “Under the law, companies are not required to seek planning permission for this activity, but they must notify the relevant mineral planning authority, in this case Warrington Borough Council.

“The council does not have any say in the matter.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .