The Court of Appeal has rejected an appeal by campaigners opposed to the fossil fuel extraction process of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, who had hoped to stop exploratory drilling taking place on two sites near Blackpool and Preston.
Lord Justice Lindblom backed last year’s High Court ruling in which Mr Justice Dove rejected the application for judicial review brought by Preston New Road Action Group and campaigner Gayzer Frackman.
In 2014 energy firm Cuadrilla announced plans to carry out horizontal fracking in the area on two sites – one at Plumpton Hall Farm, off Preston New Road, near Fylde, the other at Roseacre Wood, Roseacre Hall, Roseacre and Wharles, near Preston.
It sought permission for exploration works, including exploratory wells, and associated monitoring to test the feasibility of the commercial extraction of shale gas.
The scheme was given the green light in 2016 by communities secretary Sajid Javid, but the campaigners alleged procedural unfairness in the decision-making process. They claimed that policy was misconstrued or misapplied.
Dismissing the latest appeals, Lindblom LJ said that the action group had “manifestly” had an opportunity to participate in the decision-making procedure and, as a result, “the essential requirements of a fair procedure were, in the circumstances, wholly fulfilled”. He added that the secretary of state had been entitled to reach the decision he did.
According to its website, the PNRAG is opposed to fracking because its members fear that the procedure may have health issues, could damage the environment, may increase the number of HGVs on local roads, and might damage property. The group also says that it might impact property prices and cause earthquakes. In addition, they are concerned that the industry is inadequately regulated, and isn’t independently monitored.
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