Councillors join in protest over fracking
SKELMERSDALE County Councillors, John Fillis, Julie Gibson and Terry Aldridge have joined over 800 Councillors who have signed an open letter opposing Conservative Government proposals to allow fracking companies to undertake exploration drilling without local planning applications.
The letter calls for the withdrawal of proposals that treat exploratory drilling by fracking companies as “permitted development”.
The three Skelmersdale Councillors are concerned that fracking licences have been granted for land that has been identified across Skelmersdale and Up Holland and have called on the Government to respect the rights of communities to make decisions on shale gas activities through the local planning system.
Speaking on behalf of the three, Cllr Julie Gibson, Skelmersdale West said: “The Government is proposing that exploratory drilling for shale gas should be granted planning permission through a permitted development right – which is category of planning originally designed to facilitate minor structural changes to homes such as extensions or putting up sheds.
“Extending this right means fracking companies will not need to apply for planning permission from the local authority.”
The Government consultation closed on October 25th and has prompted hundreds of Councillors to express concerns alongside organisations such as the RSPB and CPRE, who are concerned that opening the door to fracking will have a detrimental effect on the countryside.
Cllr Gibson continued: “It is essential that local people should have the final say over exploratory drilling by fracking companies in their communities - these proposals are an affront to local democracy. We shouldn’t be changing the planning system to facilitate fracking and we call upon the Government to listen to the growing concerns from local people, Councillors and MPs and drop these undemocratic and reckless proposals.”