Cuadrilla to begin groundwater baseline monitoring at proposed exploration sites

As part of its environmental monitoring commitments and in compliance with new legislation, Cuadrilla has confirmed it has notified Lancashire County Council of its intent to drill four boreholes for the purposes of groundwater monitoring at its proposed exploration site at Preston New Road.

Cuadrilla will also be submitting a similar notification for four shallow groundwater monitoring boreholes to be drilled at its proposed Roseacre Wood site.

"Whilst we wait for the outcome of our appeals for planning permission for both exploration sites, we want to ensure that if we do get the go ahead we are fully prepared to meet our obligations on baseline monitoring of the ground water. This will allow us to reassure and demonstrate to the local community and our regulators that the groundwater will not be adversely impacted by our operations.”

Planning applications for both sites’ proposed exploration works are currently under appeal and a final decision is expected from the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government later this year. The works involved in drilling the monitoring boreholes, each to a 30 metre depth, will last approximately 16 days for all four boreholes using two truck mounted rigs which have a height of less than 12 metres.