UK Environment Agency Grants Permits to Cuadrilla for Roseacre Wood

The UK’s Environment Agency has granted the environmental permits Cuadrilla needs to carry out operations at their proposed shale gas exploration site at Roseacre Wood near Elswick in Lancashire. 

“Over the past six months we have rigorously assessed Cuadrilla’s applications and carefully considered all of the public comments received. I am confident that the strict controls set out in the permits to manage waste, safe flaring of gas and conditions to safeguard local water resources will ensure that people and the environment remain protected” Steve Molyneux, Environment Manager for Lancashire, commented in a note released by the British government.

The company welcomed the decision.

“We are pleased that the Environment Agency has granted our permits for our proposed exploration site at Roseacre Wood which follows the approval for permits at our other proposed site at Preston New Road” Francis Egan, CEO of Cuadrilla, commented. 

Nonetheless, as emerged over the last weeks, it is clear that local opposition is at the moment the main hurdle for Cuadrilla’s plans.

Last week, Lancashire County Council accepted Cuadrilla’s proposal to defer the decision on the company’s applications for shale gas exploration at Preston New Road and Roseacre Wood.