Roseacre Awareness Group
LCC DCC Presentation
19 June 2015
Barbara Richardson
Impacts of Cuadrilla’s Proposals to
Drill and Hydraulically Fracture for
Shale Gas at Roseacre Wood
Part 2
Totally Unsuitable Location
NPPF Core planning principles state Planners should be recognising
‘the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside and supporting
thriving local communities within it’
NPPF Para 20 requires ‘that a development is appropriate for its
location’
NPPF Para 121 and 122 regulatory bodies doing their job
NPPF Para 123 ‘authorities must identify and protect areas of natural
tranquillity which have remained relatively undisturbed by noise and
are prized for their recreational and amenity value for this reason’
NPPF Para 144 ’should not have unacceptable adverse impacts on the
environment and local communities’
I WILL DEMONSTRATE THIS LOCATION IS TOTALLY UNSUITABLE (FOR
AN INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT) BY SHOWING THE ADVERSE IMPACTS
IT WILL HAVE ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES
AND RURAL CHARACTER OF AREA
Joint Minerals & Waste Plan
Policy DM2 of the LMWLP states
‘a development will only be supported where it
can be demonstrated that all material, social,
economic or environmental impacts that would
cause demonstrable harm can be eliminated or
reduced to acceptable levels’
I WILL DEMONSTRATE THE APPLICANT HAS
FAILED TO DO THIS
Joint Minerals & Waste Plan
Policy CS5 of the LMWDF
‘To ensure that the sensitive environmental restoration and aftercare of sites
take place, appropriate to the landscape character of the locality and the
delivery of national and local biodiversity action plans’.
‘The amenity, health, economic well-being and safety of the population are
protected by the introduction of high operating standards, sensitive working
practices and environmental management systems that minimise harm and
nuisance to the environment and local communities throughout the life of the
development’
‘Proposals for mineral workings incorporate measures to conserve, enhance
and protect the character of Lancashire landscapes’
‘Alternatives to the bulk transportation of minerals by road will be
encouraged’
I WILL DEMONSTRATE THE APPLICANT HAS FAILED TO DO THIS BY NOT
CONSIDERING ALL THE IMPACTS
Fylde Borough Local Plan
The site is located within a countryside area as designated in the Fylde
Borough Local Plan which states that ‘must limit development in the
open countryside to that appropriate to a rural area and necessary for
the wellbeing of the local community’
Policy SP2 requires
‘ development within countryside areas will not be permitted except
where it relates to that essentially required for agriculture, horticulture
or forestry of other uses appropriate to a rural area’
‘development is essentially needed for the continuation of an existing
enterprise, facility or operation of a type and scale which would not
harm the character of the surrounding countryside’.
I WILL DEMONSTRATE THAT THE DEVELOPMENT WILL INDEED HARM
THE CHARACTER OF THE COUNTRYSIDE
Fylde Borough Local Plan
Policy SP5 states
‘The proposal does not lead to dispersal of activity on such a scale as to prejudice town or village
vitality’
‘the nature and extent of the proposal would not prejudice the character and appearance of the
countryside having regard to the development as a whole …including any requirements for access or
other highway improvements’
‘the proposal would not promote the need for additional buildings which would have a detrimental
effect on the landscape or the character of the countryside’
‘the proposed use would not promote conflict with nearby buildings or operations could be carried out
without an adverse affect upon the amenities enjoyed by nearby residents’
‘the site must have, or be capable of being provided with safe and adequate vehicular access’
‘the building is adequate to provide for the parking, loading and manoeuvring of service vehicles
without detriment to the character of the area’
‘the proposal can be adequately served by the local road network’
I WILL DEMONSTRATE THE PROPOSED SITE DOES INDEED PREJUDICE THE CHARACTER AND
APPEARANCE OF THE AREA AND WILL AFFECT THE AMENITIES ENJOYED BY RESIDENTS
Fylde Borough Local Plan
Policy EP10 - states that the distinct character and important habitats of the Fylde will be protected.
Policy EP11 - requires that new development in rural areas should be sited in keeping with the distinctive
landscape character types and that development must be of a high standard of design and that matters of
scale, features and building materials should reflect the local vernacular style.
Policy EP22 - development will not be permitted which would involve permanent loss of agricultural land
(Grades 1,2 1nd 3a) where it could reasonably take place on previously developed sites
Policy EP23 – development will not be permitted which would adversely affect the quality of water and
likely to give rise to pollution of inland surface water
Policy EP24 – development will not be permitted which would adversely affect the quality of ground water
and the ability to utilise existing or potential resources within the borough
Policy EP26 – development will not be permitted which is likely to give rise to unacceptable levels of air
pollution
Policy EP27 – development will not be permitted which would unnecessarily result in harm by way of
noise pollution
Policy EP28 – regard will be had to the issue of light pollution and proposals must avoid or minimise harm
relating to the loss of character, loss of amenity or reduction in highway safety
Policy EP29 – do not produce any unacceptable risks to human health or the wider environment including
contamination of surface or ground water
TOGETHER WE WILL PROVE THE APPLICANT HAS FAILED TO MEET THESE POLICIES
Material Planning Considerations
• There is a need for the development
• The development is acceptable in terms of
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
highway capacity and road safety
impact upon the landscape
impact on amenity and public health
impact on the water environment
impact on ecology
• The development would have an acceptable impact
on the character of the area
I WILL DEMONSTRATE THE IMPACTS ARE
UNACCEPTABLE
Similar Plans Previously Rejected
Other less invasive plans rejected by LCC, FBC, WBC, Preston CC as not suitable for rural area.
LCC/2014/0084 Grange Road , Singleton – refused as contrary to policies DM2 LMWLP and CS5 of the
Joint LMWDF in that ‘retention of site in current form would adversely affect the landscape character
of the area’
97/0644 1998 Plans for Motorway service station off M55 at Treales refused permission because site
lies in countryside policies and FB Local Plan SP4 would represent unnecessary development in the
open countryside which is contrary to the aims of the policies. Will have an intrusive visual impact in
this area of open countryside . Out of keeping with the Fylde countryside. Loss of versatile
agricultural land.
06/2007/1265 - Moorside Cottage , Woodplumpton Day Nursery - refused as out of keeping with
character of open countryside UNSUSTAINABLE LOCATION! Introduction of a commercial activity and
associated traffic movements, general noise, and disturbance would be seriously detrimental to the
rural character and appearance of the area and amenities of surrounding residents!!!!
(PPS7, PPG13, sustainable patterns of development with continued protection of open countryside,
Joint Lancashire Structure Plan Policies 5 and 20, Policies D1, D18 and T19 Adopted Preston Local Plan)
06/82/0650 Sand & Gravel Excavation at Higher Hill House Farm, Woodplumpton – contrary to local
Plan and refused as would ‘create a loss of amenity and unacceptable impact on communities’,
‘detrimental to character and appearance of an attractive rural area’ and would ‘adversely affect the
amenity of nearby dwellings’ , ‘unacceptable impact on the landscape of the area’
Where is Roseacre Wood?
• Situated in the heart of the Fylde in rural
Lancashire
• Proposed site is midway between the two hamlets
of Roseacre and Wharles
• Six miles from nearest trunk road and accessed by
narrow country lanes
Real People, Real Lives
6 houses,
500-600m
11 adults
7 children
23 houses, 4
farms
280-400m
61 adults
7 children
184 people live
within 1km of
proposed site
(29% over 60 many
with existing
health conditions
and 20% young
children)
35 houses, 3
farms
280-1000m
82 adults
16 children
2300 people
live within 2
miles of the
proposed
site in
Elswick and
Inskip
A Strong Community
Arup state in their Environmental Statement
‘No community infrastructure within 1km of the site’
(page 153, 9.6.6, para 63)
• This is totally misleading; by their very nature rural communities
are spread over several kilometres
• 184 people live within 1km of the proposed site (including
many elderly and young children)
• church, nursery school and primary school 1.2 miles from the
proposed site
• approximately 2,300 people live within 2 miles (2001 census)
Arup’s survey diminishes the community infrastructure
and potential impacts and is totally unacceptable
A Proud Rural Community
A Strong and Vibrant Community
• 3 hamlets - Roseacre, Wharles & Treales Parish
• 490 residents (180 residences)
• Christ Church (150 years of church community heritage)
with thriving Women’s Institute
• Award winning nursery school just 1mile from proposed
site
• Award winning primary school 1.2 miles from proposed
site
• 12 established dairy, stock and arable farms
• 3 thriving local pubs
Our Social Amenity
– the area is extremely popular with many for recreational
pursuits
– hundreds of cyclists, horse riders, walkers, joggers, wildlife
enthusiasts and many others
– numerous annual cycling, running and agricultural events
– many local businesses such as livery stables, caravan and
camping sites, tearooms, smithy, landscaping, public
houses, farm shops all within 1 mile of proposed site!!!
Runners and Joggers
Inskip Half Marathon
(January 18th 2015 )
500 runners from all over Lancashire and
Greater Manchester took part right
along Cuadrilla’s proposed route.
Look at the mud
on the roads
When car meets runner.
Note the state of the
roads
Note the state of the
lanes!
Note dog walker
in the road
When cyclists meet
runners
Catforth Canter
(30 May 2015)
150 runners from local running clubs
These are not one off events!
At least 7 annual charity road races along
proposed route plus many other events
Cyclists and Events
• thousands of cyclists use lanes
• 22 cycling clubs (over 500 members)
• Route includes part of Guild Wheel and
Lancashire Cycle Way
• British Cycle Association want to run 6
road races along the proposed route
Numerous Charity Events and Races
Fylde Windmill Charity Run
(Sunday 7th June 2015)
This is not a one off event.
There are many all year round.
Equestrians
Horses on
Clifton Road
March 2015
Horses on
Salwick Road
Feb 2015
• 13 livery yards would be affected, at least 6
livery yards along route some with direct access
• 300 horses in immediate area
• RAG survey showed 93% ride out April-Sept
• Hack out daily 74% would not if traffic increased
• 60% would move away from area if can’t hack
out
• Arup’s horse survey totally misleading
(completed over 3 days in Winter and during
working day!)
Canoe Clubs
meet weekly all year round right on the
proposed route
Ribble Canoe club meets every
Tuesday
Often used by local Boys
Brigade for canoeing
Liverpool Canoe Club – 26 March 2015
(even busier in Summer)
Impact on Local Businesses
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At least 13 livery stables in area
3 camping and caravan sites
2 tea rooms/café (used by walkers and cycling groups)
4 farm shops including one organic farm
agricultural smithy
garden and landscaping
3 public houses
All rely on the rural character of the area to
sustain them
Camping & Caravaners
3 sites along the route or within
1km of the proposed site
“For those of you who appreciate the outdoors and a rural location, the Hand &
Dagger is an ideal setting for those wishing to get away from it all for the
weekend. A quiet countryside spot alongside the Lancaster Canal, near to Preston,
Blackpool, Lytham St. Annes and only 7 miles from the M55”
NW Boys Brigade
Training Centre – Treales
activities in the area such as walking, cycling, riding,
canoeing, camping
60 bookings on 2014
Groups from Yorkshire, Midlands, Greater
Manchester, Scotland and Poland!
Because rural location and quiet countryside
Inskip Air Cadet Centre
Cumbria & Lancashire Wing,
Air Training Corps
Higham Side Road
Inskip
Right on Cuadrilla’s route!
Treales C of E Primary School
50 school children
only 1.2 miles from proposed site
Ofsted Outstanding
Inskip Nursery School
less than 1 mile from proposed site
40 children
Unit 2
Higham Side Road
Inskip
and right on Cuadrilla’s proposed route!
Such is the
essential rural
character of the
area enjoyed by
thousands
Classic cars driving along the
route in June
This is the reality
One Fracking Site Comprises :
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Total surface works is 6.54ha (existing site at Elswick only 1.9ha)
Site area 38,500m2 excluding access track (Elswick only 12000m2)
Well pad 13,400m2 (Elswick only 2,709m2)
1300 metres of 4metre high security solid acoustic barrier topped by razor wire ,
extending all along access road
outer 1.2m high fence
13,400m2 well pad ( Elswick site is only 2700m2)
5,700m2 ditches and bunds and fencing
35m drilling rig, 30m work over rig, 30m fracturing rig, 30m coiled tubing unit
5-15.5 metre solid acoustic barriers around drilling rig and fracking equipment
2 10x3m flare stacks
6 hydraulic fracturing pumps
2 x 15m sand silos
numerous water silos
cementing equipment
mud processing - mud mixing, mud processing pumps, mud
diesel generators and fuel storage
manifold unit, blender unit, high volume separators
Flow back tanks
cement powder, fire fighting foam, suspension fluid/additives, diesel, maintenance
lubricants
This is the reality
One Fracking Site cont’d
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ancillary structures such a site office, welfare, up to 10metres high!
40 feet high shipping containers
428m access track with 4m solid acoustic barrier
Site entrances – hard standing wide enough for two HGV’s
Security gates/booths at three site entrances
Large passing areas for HGV’s
30metres of hedgerows removed or cut down
further 280metres hedgerows lowered to 1m
number of trees removed in Roseacre Wood to make way for access road
5 x 30metre passing places (tapering to 55m) on Dagger Road and on incoming
route
widening of country lanes by up to 1metre and loss of grass verges
plus 91 surface and buried arrays each 20mx20m (down to 2mx2m) – why?
Remember it will also be lit up day and night in an area with little
light pollution at present
WHAT HAPPENS IF IT BECOMES A SUPERPAD WITH UP TO 40 WELLS?
WILL BE EVEN BIGGER/MORE IMPACT
Major industrialisation in the heart of rural Fylde!
What it will look like
Acoustic barriers
Don’t under estimate the
height of the barriers!
Security gates/booths at
the 3 site entrances !
Have you seen any photographic evidence from the applicant?
Imagine a 4metre high solid
barrier running from the road to
the woods
The site will be clearly visible from
the road and nearby residences (not
screened by a deciduous wood at all)
Adverse Visual Impacts
• Mitigation measures to reduce noise actually makes the visual impacts even
worse by installing solid acoustic barriers from 4 metre -15 metre high!
• 4 metre high solid barrier all the way along access route
• There will be ‘significant’ impact on ‘open countryside’
• Where is the evidence of what it will actually look like?
• Failure of applicant to produce photomontages, 3D or photographic images
especially after mitigation
• Why? ……… because they know what it will look like!
• Will have detrimental impact on the rural character of the landscape and will
affect local businesses who depend on it
• Will affect thousands of people who use the area for recreational pursuits
Totally unacceptable development for a rural area and
detracts from rural character
Our Rural Landscape and Features
are NOT Adequately Protected
LCC’s Landscape Architect states in his Landscape & Visual Impact Analysis (LVIA)
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‘area has a strong rural character’
‘open countryside’
‘prominent incongruous industrial features in the rural landscape’
‘significant new features’
‘significant localised landscape and visual effects are unavoidable’
‘landscape character would see effects of moderate-major significance’
‘most significant effects will occur within 1.5km radius’
‘nearby Public Rights of Way would be significantly affected by the development proposals’
‘may alter some visitors perception of what the area has to offer and deter them from using the camping
and caravanning sites’
applicants misleading photographs/photomontages – rig likely to be 3x taller! (viewpoints 3, 5, 9 and 14)
6 properties at Stanley Mews missing from LVIA Review and these directly overlook the site!!!!
local businesses rely on the rural setting which provides a valuable social amenity and local revenue
stream
EP11 requires that new development in rural areas should be sited in
keeping with the distinctive landscape character types and that
development must be of a high standard of design and that matters of
scale, features and building materials should reflect the local vernacular
style.
This is Not Temporary
• Creating a permanent waste repository
• Cuadrilla have already stated they will move to production after only
one well (if find sufficient reserves and required flow rates)
• Could be 20-30 years of impacts (increased volumes of water, traffic,
noise, waste management)
• Application includes connection to the mains gas grid
• Lancashire could become the ‘the largest gas field in Western Europe’
(Francis Egan)
• Is this what you want for rural Lancashire?
Lancashire’s Mineral & Waste emerging SPD (4.4) states ‘appraisal stage
should take account of the long term suitability of the sites since such
wells may subsequently used for production purposes’
Replicated a hundred fold?
93 seismic monitors right
across the Fylde
Is this what we really want?
Multiple and Cumulative Impacts
Unacceptable
Noise (especially when consider existing low background levels)
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• Additional traffic (on miles of narrow rural lanes)
• Light pollution (especially when consider no light pollution at present)
• Visual intrusion
• Impact on landscape - rural character will be ruined
• Impact on local businesses
• Loss of social and recreational amenity
• Risks to health and well-being
• Adverse impacts on property prices
• Locked in communities
Lancashire’s Minerals and Waste emerging SPD (4.5) states the ‘cumulative visual
effect of an increased number of wells or an intensification of development in the
local area will be a key consideration’
Proximity to MOD Inskip
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500m west of site and within safeguarding zone
provides radio communication (transmitters and receivers) services for defence purposes
extensive complex of guyed masts (including 4x183m masts) which are susceptible to damage
ES fails to identify them as ‘local critical infrastructure’ or ‘potential seismic sensitive receptors but
they must be considered as such (MOD)
applicant to assess induced vibration or seismicity impacts?
proposed site occupies electromagnetic fields – emissions induce electric currents and voltages
which could cause electrical sparks (MOD)
proposed site relates to extraction of combustible gases and, as such, may be the source of
flammable atmosphere and an electrical spark could be source of ignition (MOD
Safety and security implications of using MOD Inskip for all HGV traffic?
applicant to produce risk assessment (BS EN PD CLC/TR 50427:2004) MOD.
Have you seen it and are you reassured that all risks eliminated?
Other safety considerations especially proximity to main gas pipe line (MHAP)
MOD Inskip can only be used if operationally expedient/relevant terms yet to be established?
What does this mean?
The applicant has yet to demonstrate that proximity of the
exploration site to MOD Inskip is safe. This creates further
anxiety.
Accidents can and
do happen!
“This study carefully reviewed the public records of
environmental violations reported by the
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection for the period 2008–10. Of a total of
1,924 violations, 152 were serious, involving 72
cement and casing violations, 8 blowouts, 56 major
spills, and 16 cases of stray gas.”
Accidents can and do
happen
After a huge fracking well blowout in Karnes County, Texas, residents were
evacuated within a THREE-MILE radius. This happened on May 19th 2015 and
some residents haven't yet been able to return home - almost three weeks later.
"The well released more than 862,000 pounds of air contaminants according to a
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality report.“
“TCEQ said during the first 1.5 hours of the blowout, fresh water was released.
The remaining 22 hours the flow was a mix of oil, water and gas”.
Imagine if this happened here. A three-mile evacuation zone would take you close
into densely populated Kirkham, Preston and Blackpool.
Emergency plans, poor access for emergency vehicles? How long would it take to
reach us down narrow country lanes?
Is this what you want in an area known for
its beauty, tranquility and amenity?
Summary
The applicant has failed to meet many of LCC
planning policies designed to protect us.
This proposal will have a devastating impact on
the character of the area, the rural landscape and
will result in loss of amenity
PLEASE DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR TO FRACKING IN
LANCASHIRE
…. the potential for long lasting damage to people’s
health, environment and local businesses just too great!