Secretary of State to Decide Lancashire Fracking Appeal

PRESS RELEASE 27^th November 2015

Preston New Road Group are appalled but not surprised learn that the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Greg Clark, has called-in the Lancashire fracking appeal decisions. This flies in the face of the hypocritical government’s stated commitment to localism and the devolution of local decisions to where they should rest: in local hands.

Fylde Conservative MP Mark Menzies has stated consistently that he backs localism and this decision needs to be taken and upheld locally. Preston New Road now asks that he makes a strong vocal opposition to this latest high-handed move to prise Lancashire’s future out of Lancashire’s hands.

The reasons given for the recovery of the planning application appeal were stated to be of the “…development of major importance having more than local significance and proposals which raise important or novel issues of development control, and/or legal difficulties.”

A spokesperson said: “30,000 people objected to this application. Our parish and borough councils objected to it, Lancashire County Council objected to it. Lancashire has spoken loudly and clearly: we don’t want or need this industry.  It is a very “Black Friday” when local democracy has to be sacrificed in order to try to ensure planning outcomes under the euphemism of ‘national interest’.”

Claire Stephenson from Preston New Road said: The world is entering a critical period for climate change, and the need to act strongly to prevent catastrophic and irreversible global change is essential, the UK government seems dogged in their persistence to dig up yet more fossil fuels, against scientific warnings. Methane from fracking operations will contribute to this climate change. The only options for future energy needs and meeting climate change targets must be focussed around renewable sources, of which the government has happily culled. It seems ironic that the UK government will attend the Paris Climate talks next week with little to contribute other than a destroyed renewables industry, scrapped carbon capture support and a nonsensical pursuit of fossil fuels.”

Sue Marshall said: “Now even the illusion of democracy is at risk with far reaching consequences into all aspects of our lives. We don’t need to look abroad for terrorist threats: currently the greatest threat to us all is closer to home, in the heart of our government, whose blatant arrogance and disrespect for democratic process and destructive denial of human rights knows no bounds.”