The decision to allow shale gas drilling, or fracking, in Lancashire will be made directly by the Government regardless of the recommendations made by a local planning inspector.
Energy firm Caudrilla are appealing against the council's refusal in June to allow fracking on two sites. The appeal is due to be decided in February and Greg Clark will be making the final decision due to the national importance of the schemes.
The Secretary of State said he took the decision because the appeals involved "proposals for exploring and developing shale gas which amount to proposals for development of major importance having more than local significance and proposals which raise important or novel issues of development control, and/or legal difficulties."
Industry and the Government have been frustrated at the slow rate of progress on exploratory fracking for shale gas and oil in the UK and so, in August, decided to fast track planning applications for fracking operations if local authorities threaten to block them.
However, although the news came as little surprise shadow energy secretary, Lisa Nandy, said: "It’s hypocritical for ministers to support devolution and local democracy for decision-making over windfarms, only to then trample over the views of local communities when it comes to fracking. The Government has completely failed to win public support for these drilling projects, which is not surprising as they abandoned important environmental safeguards. By seeking to impose fracking, public concern is only likely to deepen."
Additionally, senior energy campaigner Donna Hume has said: "The fact that Lancashire council’s rejection of fracking could now be overturned by central Government is a slap in the face to local democracy and the thousands of people in the county who strongly opposed it...for those who live in areas also under the threat of fracking, there will be extreme concern that any carefully considered local decision could be reversed by a Government intent on pursuing fracking at any cost."
