The information for the Public Inquiry for Cuadrilla’s appeal hearing has been released. This is where local democracy is truly tested in full public view and will set a precedent for all fracking applications in the UK.

Appeals have been lumped together and will all be heard as one: both Preston New Road and Roseacre’s monitoring works and exploratory works will be included in one long hearing lasting up to 20 days +, if longer is required.

The inspector will then make her report after the conclusion of evidence, and then forward to Greg Clark in Westminster for him solely to make his decision, after being present at none of the evidence hearings. Seems sensible.

The Inquiry will open at 10.00hrs on Tuesday 9th February 2016 at Blackpool Football Club Conference Centre, Bloomfield Road, Seasiders Way, Blackpool, FY1 6JJ. The Inquiry is set down for 20 days, over period of 5 weeks, normally between the hours of 09.30 and 17.30hrs. It will not sit on Mondays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Information about how documents relating to the Appeals can be viewed in advance of and during the inquiry can be accessed via the following web link:

http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/council/planning/major-planning-applications/shale-gas-developments-in-lancashire.aspx

The following sessions will be held with the specific purpose of providing members of the public with a convenient opportunity to speak at the Inquiry:

• Wednesday 17th February at 18.30hrs until 21.30hrs for Roseacre Wood appeals
• Thursday 25th February at 18.30hrs until 21.30hrs for Preston New Road appeals
• Tuesday 10th March at 11.00hrs until 17.30 hrs for all appeals

If you are interested at speaking at the Inquiry, we request that you email your name, address, postcode, the day or evening, (from the three options listed above), at which to speak and the Appeal you wish to speak on, to Yvonne Parker, the Programme Manager by Wednesday 10th February 2016 at: appealsinquiry@virginmedia.com

Depending on the numbers wishing to speak, it may be necessary to limit the time allocated to each speaker at these sessions. In those circumstances it is anticipated that the Interested Persons will be given no longer than 5 minutes each to speak. If you are proposing to make oral representations by way of reading from a short written statement at one of these sessions, then a copy of that prepared statement should be submitted to the Programme Officer in support of what you wish to say, to the above email address. If all those who wish to speak cannot be accommodated within the dates and times set out above, then another opportunity will be provided within the Inquiry Programme before the Inquiry closes. Details of any such additional sessions will be announced at the Inquiry and published on the website at a later date.

All information regarding this hearing can be found at: https://acp.planningportal.gov.uk/ViewCase.aspx?caseid=3130923