Cuadrilla breached fracking conditions, court told {uk}

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/sep/10/cuadrilla-breach-fracking-lancashire?intcmp=122


Cuadrilla's shale gas exploration site in Lancashire. The company has breached conditions of planning permission, it has emerged. Photograph: Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images

The company exploring for shale gas in Lancashire broke the conditions of their planning permission by drilling beyond an agreed time limit and beyond a cut-off date put in place to protect wintering birds, it emerged on Monday.

The revelation of the breaches by Cuadrilla – which came to light during evidence given by Lancashire county council's head of planning in a trial of anti-fracking protesters – come as concern over the regulation of gas fracking led three of the UK's biggest environmental groups to write a warning letter to the climate and energy secretary, Ed Davey.

"It's appalling that Cuadrilla is unwilling to respect even the most basic safeguards in the earliest stages of exploration," said Caroline Lucas, Green party MP. "Instead of cosying up to the shale gas industry, the government should impose an immediate moratorium on fracking, following in the footsteps of France and Czech Republic."