Fast-tracking for fracking bids criticised
The leader of a Shropshire campaign group against drilling for gas has criticised government action to "fast-track" fracking applications.
Chris Hesketh, leader of Frack Free Dudleston, today raised concerns over the democracy of plans to put shale gas planning applications though a new, fast-track planning process.
Energy secretary Amber Rudd and communities secretary Greg Clark announced the plans yesterday that will give councils 16 weeks to approve or refuse the bids.
If they repeatedly fail to make a decision on applications within that time-frame the next applications could instead by decided by the Communities Secretary Mr Clark.
But Mr Hesketh said: "I don't welcome it because it seems to be that it is less about what people think and another step towards the government imposing what it thinks is the right answer. They have lined up and decided what the public needs without talking with that public and any experts."
Energy secretary Amber Rudd said: "We need more secure, home-grown energy supplies – and shale gas must play a part in that.
"To ensure we get this industry up and running we can't have a planning system that sees applications dragged out for months, or even years on end."
In Dudleston Heath, campaigners spent more than a year fighting plans put forward by Dart Energy to operate an exploratory borehole for coal bed methane extraction.
The plans were originally submitted to Shropshire Council in September 2014. But after months without a decision, the energy company submitted an appeal in February.
The case then went to the government planning inspectorate before it was eventually withdrawn in July when Dart's licence with the landowner ended.
