Cuadrilla Scores Victory in Court for Preston New Road Project

UK-based Cuadrilla Resources reported it scored a victory in court for its projects at Preston New Road, near Little Plumpton.

‘Today (28 August 2014), at a hearing at Manchester High Court, HHJ Hodge QC has upheld a claim submitted by local farmers and Cuadrilla for possession against trespassers who have been illegally occupying farmland at Preston New Road, near Little Plumpton since 7 August,’ reads a note released on Thursday evening.

The Court also passed an interim measure preventing future trespassing on farmland at and surrounding Cuadrilla’s proposed shale gas exploration sites.

‘This injunction will be assessed again at a hearing in early October as the defence was granted time to further prepare on this aspect of the claim.’ 

Earlier this year, Cuadrilla’s application for up to four shale gas exploration wells at Preston New Road had been accepted.

“We welcome the Judge’s verdict to uphold the claim against illegal trespass on local farmland and we were pleased to support the landowners in these legal proceedings. We hope the court’s ruling will help deter this kind of unlawful behaviour in the future which has already had a detrimental impact on a local farmer’s business,” Francis Egan, CEO of Cuadrilla.