Cuadrilla rubbishes TV claims as unrest grows

The BBC’s Inside Out North West Programme, which airs tonight, claims Caudrilla Resources withdrew applications for radioactive waste permits that would allow the controversial shale gas drilling process - known as fracking - to go ahead.

The programme will claim Cuadrilla told the BBC, following recent changes in the Environment Agency’s guidance on permits and an ongoing review of its exploration programme, it had decided to ‘withdraw the previous permit applications for our sites in Lancashire’.

But Cuadrilla say it is in the process of preparing new permits.

A spokesman for Cuadrilla said: “Our plans have certainly not stalled.

“Following many months of consultation with the EA we are in the process of preparing new permits and will provide further detail when we announce a number of proposed new exploration sites in the near future.”

According to a leading expert the Environment Agency will not grant the special licenses – until it is satisfied a disposal route is available for the by-product of fracking - radioactive wastewater.

Radiation Waste Advisor, Dr Trevor Jones, told Inside Out that significant investment is likely to be needed before that happens - meaning plans for fracking across the UK could be delayed.

However, Cuadrilla claim a report published by The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) states the UK already has facilities in place to tackle the issue.

The spokesman added: “We welcome the report published this month by CIWEM which states the UK already has the required treatment facilities to deal with the limited levels of flowback water associated with the current exploration stage.

“We do not envisage any issues with treatment capability or capacity for exploration.”

Fracking is the process of extracting gas by drilling deep underground with the use of high pressure water and chemicals.

Meanwhile, anti-fracking protestors marched towards Barton Moss, Greater Manchester during a protest against energy firm IGas’ plans for the area. They gathered outside Salford Reds’ stadium carrying banners that said ‘Shale Gas, Toxic Legacy’ and ‘Ban Fracking Now’ before marching to the site.

Campaigners came from as far away as London, South Wales and Scotland.

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