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| Fracking allowed in Lancashire in landmark Government ruling | Fracking allowed in Lancashire in landmark Government ruling |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Government has overturned a decision to refuse planning permission for fracking of shale gas in Lancashire. | |
| While the Department for Communities and Local Government had yet to make a formal announcement, Friends of the Earth released documents showing one of two proposed sites had been given planning permission, despite local opposition. | |
| Friends of the Earth north-west campaigner, Helen Rimmer, said: “This is bad news for Lancashire – the community have been fighting fracking for more than five years. This fight continues until this unproven and unpopular industry disappear for good. | |
| “Instead of shoving us down a dangerous path that inevitably leads to climate change, the Government should invest in renewables and energy efficiency, an emerging industry that could create 24,000 jobs in the north west alone.” | |
| Lancashire County Council voted against allowing drilling for gas using the controversial technique at the two sides in June last year, following more than 18,000 objections. | |
| The company behind the project, Cuadrilla, then appealed to the Government. | |
| Communities Secretary Sajid Javid decided to allow fracking at one site, called Preston New Road, but deferred a decision on an application to frack at Roseacre Wood, according to documents outlining the decision released by Friends of the Earth. | |
| The Government planning inspector had recommended allowing the Preston New Road application, but recommended refusal of the Roseacre Wood site. | |
| The planning decision document said Mr Javid was "minded" to grant permission for Roseacre Wood if traffic problems identified by the inspector could be resolved. | |
| "He [Mr Javid] has decided to give the appellant [Cuadrilla] and other parties the opportunity to provide any further evidence on highway safety and allow parties to make any representations on that before reaching a final decision on this appeal," the document says. | |
| "Subject to being satisfied that the highway safety issues identified by the inspector can be satisfactorily addressed, the Secretary of State is minded to allow Appeal C [Roseacre Wood] and grant planning permission, subject to conditions." | |
| Liberal Democrat Climate and Energy Spokesperson Lynne Featherstone said the decision "sets a very dangerous precedent". | |
| “Fracking poses a huge risk to our countryside, environment and efforts to tackle climate change, we must continue to fight it at every turn," she said. | |
| “At a time when the rest of the world is moving towards low carbon, this Conservative government is taking us in completely the wrong direction.” | |
| Greenpeace campaigner Hannah Martin said the decision raised questions about the UK Government's commitment to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. | |
| “This fudged decision shows the Government is struggling to force fracking on a reluctant nation," she said. | |
| "Fracking will put our countryside and air quality at risk. Digging up more fossil fuels that we can’t burn if we are to honour the international agreement we signed in Paris and is coming into force next month makes little economic or environmental sense. | |
| “Theresa May cannot build a 21st-century industrial strategy on a polluting and inexperienced fracking sector that won’t deliver for years, if ever. | |
| "If the Prime Minister wants to promote an affordable and fair energy system whilst bolstering business growth and job creation, renewable and smart energy technologies are the way to go.” | |
| Pat Davies, who chairs the Preston New Road Action Group, said it was "a sad day as it is clear to all that this Government neither listens nor can it be trusted to do the right thing for local communities. | |
| “It is deplorable that an industry that has been rejected on every level has inflicted itself on Preston New Road. Westby Parish Council, Fylde Borough Council and Lancashire County Council planning committee all said no to this application. These reasons were based on facts and knowledge, they rejected the site as unsuitable. Profit clearly comes before people. | |
| "This travesty of justice will not be accepted. This is not the end. We will challenge this.” | |
| And Barbara Richardson, of Roseacre Awareness Group, said: “While we are happy that there will be no fracking in Roseacre, our joy is obviously tempered by the decision to allow fracking to go ahead elsewhere in Lancashire. We will do what we can to support our friends at Preston New Road in their continuing fight. | |
| “After researching this industry for over two and a half years we are of the firm opinion that fracking has no place anywhere in the UK. The risks to our health and wellbeing, environment and climate change are far too high and the benefits seriously over-hyped. There is still a significant threat from this industry especially in the North of England. | |
| “Fracking is not the solution. It is a backward step in energy policy. Ours is a small and densely populated country, unlike the wide open spaces of the US, which cannot support such an industry without devastating results. Be assured this is about money not people.” | |
| This is a breaking story. More to follow | This is a breaking story. More to follow |