Bramleymoor Lane public inquiry due to start

Planning inspector Elizabeth Hill will decide on behalf of the government whether or not to grant planning permission to oil and chemical firm INEOS for the development on Bramleymoor Lane, near the village of Marsh Lane.

INEOS wants to erect a drilling rig up to 60 metres tall on privately-owned land off Bramleymoor Lane and drill around 2,400 metres below the ground to investigate the suitability of the rock for 'fracking' – the process of injecting water and chemicals at high pressure into rocks deep underground to create tiny cracks so shale gas can flow up a well to the surface and be collected.

The inquiry, which is being held at The Assembly Rooms at the Market Hall in Soresby Street, Chesterfield, is due to start at 10am on Tuesday and is expected to last around 8 days.

Representatives for INEOS, Derbyshire County Council and Eckington Against Fracking will all address the inquiry.

In February, the Derbyshire County Council planning committee voted by a majority of 9 to 1 to oppose the proposal at the inquiry.

Everyone attending the inquiry is encouraged to look at useful information about the proceedings such as parking and timescales for the inquiry.