‘Halton under threat of fracking’ warning
● AN environmental organisation has claimed both parliamentary constituencies covering Halton could face the threat of test drilling without planning permission under plans unveiled in the Conservative manifesto.
Friends Of The Earth (FOTE) has warned 199 seats across the UK – including Halton and Weaver Vale – could face the prospect after the manifesto from Theresa May party’s was unveiled on Thursday, May 18.
A FOTE spokesman said the manifesto promises to let fracking firms with exploration licences carry out test drills for shale gas without any need for planning permission.
It means firms could drill and sample a well – often the first step towards full-scale fracking – without planning permission.
The environmental organisation said the move would require a change in the law to bring drilling under the ‘permitted development’ regime originally designed to deal with minor and low impact building works, such as changing garden fences.
Under the current spread of licences, the proposed change would mean 199 constituencies across the UK facing fast-track test drilling if the next Government is Conservative, according to FOTE analysis.
Companies holding licences could be able to drill, without the need for a planning application, environmental impact assessment or any form of local democratic participation.
The Conservative manifesto also promises to change the law so that full-scale fracking applications could be taken away from local councils, if the application is considered ‘major’.
FOTE senior planner Naomi Luhde-Thompson said: “This proposal could see shale gas test drills puncture the countryside left, right and centre – with local democracy trampled underfoot.
“We are also extremely concerned that the final decision on proposals for full-scale fracking could be taken away from local councillors.
“This is hugely undemocratic, marginalises the views of local people, and goes against the Tories’ own localism agenda.
“If there was a referendum on fracking, it would be banished to the dustbin of history, not least because it is completely incompatible with stopping climate change.”