New shale gas bid as appeal set to be made

Last month, Lancashire County Council refused permission for two fracking sites, where gas exploration company Cuadrilla was hoping to drill four wells.

Protestors were overjoyed – but Lancashire business leaders said they felt it was an opportunity lost.

Now IGas Limited has revealed it wants to drill 12 bore holes on land in Misson, Nottinghamshire, close to the boundary with South Yorkshire.

This followed an application to Nottinghamshire County Council for permission to start exploratory tests at the same site which was submitted in May.

The boreholes would be used to determine existing groundwater conditions.

Any bid for hydraulic fracturing at the sites would be subject to separate applications.

Lancashire rejected Cuadrilla’s plans to frack at Preston New Road, Little Plumpton, and Roseacre Wood, near Elswick, after mammoth hearings at County Hall.

Supporters of shale gas say the industry could provide thousands of jobs both on site and in the supply chain.

And business leaders were concerned energy firms may look outside Lancashire as a result of the county council’s decisions.

Cuadrilla says it plans to appeal against the decisions on both sites.

An inspector will eventually be appointed to chair a planning inquiry.

Friends of the Earth campaigner Donna Hume said: “The government should throw its weight behind the UK’s huge clean energy potential, which is far more popular with the public.”