The Telegraph: Local communities may be stripped of the chance to decide on fracking in their area, under sweeping new rules allowing ministers to bypass councils entirely.
Under controversial plans to encourage the faltering fracking industry, Greg Clark, the communities secretary, will now consider ‘calling in’ any planning application for shale gas exploration as soon as it is submitted to a local authority.
Mr Clark would then decide on the application instead of the council under the new powers to “fast-track” fracking, which come into effect this week.
The new rules come as ministers prepare to reveal the locations of dozens of areas across England where they have awarded energy companies the right to explore for shale gas and oil. To read more go to:
Greenpeace: You might have heard today that the government has announced it will ‘call in’ the decision over fracking in Lancashire. What this means is that, depsite Lancashire county council voting against the shale gas industry back in June, the government now intends to have the final say.
Even though public support for fracking continues to drop, it looks like minister are now moving to approve Cuadrilla’s application to drill. Greg Clark, the minister who oversees our councils, will now make the final call. In the past he’s called on council leaders to “take power” back from central government. Is this a principle he’ll now stick to and apply to fracking? We’ve launched an urgent petition telling Greg Clark to stick to his words and respect Lancashire council’s decision to say no to shale gas.