Preston campaigners launch legal challenge to fracking in Lancashire

A community group has begun legal action against the Government's decision to grant permission for fracking in Lancashire.

The Preston New Road Action Group (PNRAG), have written to the Secretary of State for Local Government to argue that his decision to overrule Lancashire County Council’s refusal of planning permission for fracking in Fylde, Lancashire, is unlawful.

Lawyers for the Lancashire group from Leigh Day argue that the decision is fundamentally flawed in its misapplication of planning laws and policy.

It is also claimed that the Government did not properly consider the disproportionate effect that fracking on the site would have on vulnerable residents such as the elderly and school children nearby.

On 29 June 2015, the Council refused planning permission to Cuadrilla Bowland Limited to use a site off Preston New Road for fracking. However, the company appealed this decision and their appeal was controversially upheld by the Secretary of State on 6 October 2016.

The letter before action from Leigh Day requests that the Government reconsiders its decision.

If the government refuses then the group will consider bringing a statutory challenge under section 288 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 against the decision.

A spokesperson from Preston New Road Action Group said:

Rowan Smith, of law firm Leigh Day, said: