‘Alarm bells’ as fracking site given go-ahead

DEALING WITH fracking applications at a national level is undermining local democracy, campaigners last night warned, after a company was given the final goahead by the Government to undertake the controversial process at a site in Lancashire.

Shale firm Cuadrilla was yesterday granted permission to frack at the site at Preston New Road, subject to certain conditions being met.

Energy and Clean Growth Minister Claire Perry said the company had met all the necessary environmental and health and safety measures in order to give it the go-ahead.

It comes as Third Energy continues to wait for Government approval to begin its own test drilling in Kirby Misperton, North Yorkshire. Petrochemical firm Ineos last month won an appeal for exploratory drilling near Rotherham, to carry out tests at Common Lane, Harthill. In the latest decision in Lancashire, Ms Perry said certain conditions had to be met, including supplying the Business and Energy Department with the latest accounts for co-investor Spirit Energy, before Cuadrilla can begin fracking.

She added that shale gas had the potential to be a new domestic energy source “further enhancing our energy security and helping us with our continued transition to a lower-carbon economy”.

Steve Mason, from the Frack Free United and Frack Free Ryedale campaign groups, said: “They are now blatantly allowing fracking companies to trample on communities across Yorkshire and the rest of the UK. This must have alarm bells ringing for everyone who believes in local democracy.”