‘Fracking’ earthquakes research

Cuadrilla's Francis Egan speaks to ITV Granada about the latest fracking research study.

Read: New study says fracking 'not significant' cause of large earthquakes

Cuadrilla Resources, the company behind Lancashire’s controversial ‘fracking’ industry has put its exploration plans on hold until next year until an environmental impact assessment (EIA) takes place.

The company said the assessments are "business as normal" for Cuadrilla.

Those in favour of the controversial drilling technique say fracking is safe and could help stop us importing gas from abroad.

Those against talk about pollution to our water supplies and claim it causes small earthquakes.

A controversial drilling technique which splits opinion now has government approval.

Those in favour say fracking is safe and could help stop us importing gas from abroad. Those against talk about pollution to our water supplies and claim it causes small earthquakes.

Cuadrilla halted drilling on the Lancashire coast last year after two earth tremors near Blackpool.

But today the Government said it could go ahead but with stricter controls than before.

Cuadrilla already has a licence to explore 12-hundred square kilometres, mainly close to Blackpool and Lytham and St Annes.

There's some hope that consumers could see a fall in their gas bills.

Ben Schofield has more.

The government has given the go-ahead for controversial gas extracting technique fracking to in Lancashire.

The company, Cuadrilla, was stopped from fracking after two tremors on the Fylde Coast.

There was concern after a documentary showed people able to light water coming from their taps.

In the US, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) investigated complaints from residents in Pavillion, Wyoming who complained that fracking was affecting their drinking water.

The firm say the technique is safe, will create jobs but won't necessarily cheapen our gas bills. Play video for more.

The Government has given the green light for "fracking" for shale gas to resume in Lancashire.

Moves by gas company Cuadrilla to exploit the unconventional gas were put on hold 18 months ago after fracking, which uses high-pressure liquid to split rock and extract gas, caused two small earthquakes.

Cuadrilla sees today’s announcement as a significant step in the future development of the UK’s onshore gas industry.

The company is ready to move ahead with its plans, involving the hydraulic fracturing and flow testing of a number of wells in Lancashire in 2013.

Before these further exploration and testing plans can proceed, Cuadrilla will work closely with DECC and its representatives, Lancashire County Council, the Environment Agency, the HSE, the local communities and other relevant parties to obtain regulatory approvals and planning permission.

In cooperation with DECC, Cuadrilla has already taken a number of steps to further reduce environmental risk. Key among these is an advanced system for seismic monitoring that allows Cuadrilla and DECC to closely monitor and regulate hydraulic fracturing activity.

The Government has given the green light for "fracking" for shale gas to resume in Lancashire.

Greenpeace energy campaigner Leila Deen said: "George Osborne's dream of building Dallas in Lancashire is dangerous fantasy. He is not JR Ewing and this is not the US."

The go-ahead for fracking to resume came as the Government's climate advisers warned that a continued reliance on gas would push up consumer bills by hundreds of pounds more than if there was a shift towards low-carbon power such as wind.

The Committee on Climate Change's chief executive, David Kennedy, dismissed claims that exploiting shale gas in the UK and Europe could push down gas prices.

He said it was not a "game changer" on this side of the Atlantic as it could only meet a relatively small share of gas demand.