Environmental campaigners have accused ministers of bypassing local democracy after the government said it would have the final say on controversial plans for fracking in Lancashire whatever the recommendation of a local planning inspector.
An application by energy company Cuadrilla to drill for shale gas at two sites in Lancashire had been due to be decided at a planning appeal in February. But the communities and local government department has intervened by saying the secretary of state, Greg Clark, will make the final decision because of the national importance of the schemes.
Labour has accused the government of trying to impose fracking on local communities.
In a letter to the council, sent on Clark’s behalf, the department said: “The secretary of state hereby directs that he shall determine these appeals instead of an inspector.”
The letter, published by the Blackpool Gazette, reads: “The reason for this direction is because the drilling appeals involve 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.”
Cuadrilla is appealing against a decision in June by Lancashire county council to refuse its plans to frack for shale. The appeal will still go ahead but planning inspector Wendy McKay will now make a recommendation to Clark rather than a ruling in the dispute.
The government decided in August to fast-track planning applications for fracking operations if local authorities threaten to block them.
Industry and the government have been frustrated at the slow rate of progress on exploratory fracking for shale gas and oil in the UK after David Cameron said last year the government esd “going all out for shale”.
The 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.”
Donna Hume, senior energy campaigner at Friends of the Earth, accused the government of pursuing fracking whatever the cost. She 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.”
She added: “With mounting evidence that drilling for shale gas risks impacting on people’s health, polluting the natural environment and causing more climate change, it is only right that decisions are made locally by those who have to live with the consequences.”
Cuadrilla said Clark’s intervention was “part of a long established planning process … We look forward to presenting our case at the public inquiry commencing in February.”
Greenpeace UK’s energy campaigner, Hannah Martin, said: “The same minister who told local councils they should be ‘masters of their own destiny’ could now overthrow one of the most important and difficult decisions Lancashire councillors have ever made.”
