Enforcement notice served to Preston New Road site owners
Lancashire County Council has served an enforcement notice on the owner of the Preston New Road site, requiring its restoration in line with approved planning conditions.
This follows the council’s development control committee decision in December last year to refuse an application from Cuadrilla for a further extension of time to complete the restoration.
The council has since been informed that Cuadrilla will begin removing site infrastructure, marking the start of the restoration process.
However, the approved timetable for restoration was not met, resulting in unacceptable and unnecessary harm to the rural character of the area.
The enforcement notice requires all plant, buildings, security and acoustic fencing, pollution control membranes, aggregates and concrete hardstanding forming part of the drilling compound to be removed within four months of the notice being served. The land must then be restored to a condition suitable for agricultural use within six months of the notice being served.
The county council will not hesitate to take further action if the requirements of the notice are not met.
Councillor Joshua Roberts, cabinet member for Rural Affairs, Environment and Communities, said:
“This situation has gone on for far too long.
“Local residents have had to live with this site for longer than they should have, and it is right that we have now taken firm action to bring this to a conclusion.
“It is positive that work is beginning to remove infrastructure from the site, but it is essential that the full restoration is completed within the required timeframe.
“We will not hesitate to take further steps if necessary.”