What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Green campaigners yesterday hit out at plans by ministers to relax planning laws for fracking.

The move comes after Lancashire County council rejected an application by energy firm Cuadrilla to drill wells on the Flyde coast.

The company now faces a lengthy battle to appeal the council ruling.

Energy Secretary Amber Rudd said councils will be issued with new guidance to councils telling them to speed up hearings for hydraulic fracturing or fracking which sees water pumped into rocks at high pressure to release shale gas.

The new rules will make it easier for ministers to intervene if local aurthorities are deemed to be holding up applications.

Ms Rudd said: “We need more secure, home-grown energy supplies and shale gas must play a part.

“We can’t continue with a system that sees applications dragged out for months or even years on end which doesn’t give certainty to the industry and which could spell the end of a potentially vital national industry.”

She added: “Getting shale exploration up and running is a key part of our long-term plan to build a stronger economy, create jobs by backing the industries of the future and take our country forward.”

Guidance from the Department of Local Government and Communities will tell local authorities: “There is an urgent need to explore and develop our shale gas and oil resources in order to unlock their potential benefits and to help meet our objectives for secure energy supplies, economic growth and lower carbon emissions.”

But Greenpeace’s Daisy Sands said: “The same government that has just given more powers to local councils to oppose wind farms, the cheapest source of clean energy, is about to strip them of their right to say no to risky and polluting fracking.

“With public support for shale at an all time low, ministers are now having to bulldoze their unpopular fracking plans through. There will be a high political price to pay for putting the interest of the fossil fuel lobby before those of local residents, the environment and the climate.”

(Image: PA)

Labour leadership frontrunner said he was opposed to fracking and said mining for shale gas would be “unbelievably pollutive” to ground water and “very short term.”

Cuadrilla is to move its headquarters to Lancashire where it hopes to frack for shale gas.

Last month the company announced it would appeal against decisions by county councillors to refuse planning permission for two sites.

The firm wants to frack and test the flow of gas from up to four exploration wells at each of two sites between Blackpool and Preston.

Cuadrilla has now said it will move its head office to Lancashire at the beginning of next year as “a visible symbol” of its commitment to shale gas exploration in the county.

Chief executive Francis Egan said: “Relocating our headquarters to the North West is not only a visible symbol of our continued commitment to exploration for shale gas in Lancashire but will enable an even greater focus in growing our supplier base and employees from the area.

“Whilst we are currently at the start of an appeals process regarding our Lancashire planning applications, we are confident that shale gas exploration will bring many benefits to the region that include our own direct investment in local people and suppliers for our new head office.”