Earlier this year, Lancashire County Council actually listened to its community and rejected two fracking planning applications by Cuadrilla for sites in Fylde. Since then, the fracking company has appealed, and while there will be a planning inspector's report, the Government's Communities Secretary, Greg Clark is to make the final decision.
Greg Clark is the man who said he wants local councils to `take power' back from national government and now he's getting slated from all quarters. The Labour Party's shadow Energy Secretary, Lisa Nandy said: "It's hypocritical for ministers to support devolution and local democracy for decision making over wind farms, only to trample over the views of local communities when it comes to fracking."
Greenpeace UK has launched a petition that has already got almost 45,000 signatures in a couple of days... "We're being silenced" the groups states "Earlier this year, our movement to stop fracking won a huge victory when Lancashire council said a resounding NO to fracking. But now, in an unprecedented move that makes a mockery out of local democracy, Westminster politicians announced that they'll have the final say."
Rebecca, who lives in Lancashire and is part of Nanas Against Fracking, added "summed it up this morning when she told us: "I'm feeling furious about the Government's latest blow, but I'm also feeling defiant. If they think we are going away now they are hugely mistaken."
The Government takeover of local democracy has huge implications for Salford which was the front line against fracking last year via Barton Moss...
To sign the Greenpeace UK petition – click here
It reads: To: Greg Clark, Minister for Local Government cc: David Cameron, Prime Minister
"Please respect Lancashire County Council's democratic right to say no to fracking. Giving the shale gas industry permission to drill - after council leaders listened to local people and said no to fracking - would make a mockery of the government support for local democracy."
Main photo shows Frack Free Lancashire campaigners outside the Tory Party Conference