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Have Your Say On Decision Making For Shale Gas Development

Published on Thursday 16 August 2018

Leader of Derbyshire County Council Councillor Barry Lewis has spoken out about Government consultations which could lead to planning proposals for shale gas development no longer being decided locally.

Councillor Lewis is opposed to:

•           making underground drilling using a rig to investigate how much shale gas is present in an area ‘permitted development’ – which means shale gas companies would no longer need to apply for planning permission to do this work.

•           giving a Government minister responsibility for deciding whether proposals to set-up a full commercial fracking operation should go ahead – which means local councils would no longer make decisions about these applications.

Fracking is the process of injecting water and chemicals at high pressure into rocks deep underground to create tiny cracks so shale gas can flow up a well to the surface and be collected.

Following a detailed inquiry, a recent House of Commons Select Committee report recommended that applications for fracking should still be determined locally rather than at a national level. It has also recommended that ‘permitted development’ rights should not be introduced as this would also take decision making out of local control.

Councillor Lewis said: “I agree with the Select Committee. Local councils are best placed to make decisions about development in their local area. But if these changes to the planning system go ahead it will mean important decisions affecting our communities about fracking are taken by central Government.

“And if the planning system is short-cut by no longer requiring proposals to investigate for shale gas to be given planning permission, it will be a sad blow to public engagement through local decision making.

“These are sensitive applications. They are classed as ‘temporary’ but can include long periods of testing and drilling with tall rigs and associated buildings.

“Our planning process is a democratic process. These changes could see local councils completely cut-out of the decision-making process at every stage for shale gas proposals with the greatest effects on the local communities and countryside.

Under the current process for deciding whether shale gas development should be allowed to go ahead, shale gas companies wishing to investigate shale gas reserves or carry out fracking in Derbyshire have to apply for planning permission from the county council at each stage of the development.

Each planning application is currently considered on its individual merits by the county council’s planning committee – a cross-party committee of 10 councillors who are impartial.

Every planning decision is based on objective analysis of evidence, taking into account local and national planning policies and the relevant comments of the public and official consultees such as parish councils.

The county council is preparing a formal response to the public consultations and a report will be considered by the Cabinet Member Meeting for Highways, Transport and Infrastructure on 11 October 2018.

Members of the public can also take part in the consultations online.

To find out more about the consultations, how to take part and how to contact your MP about them visit www.derbyshire.gov.uk/shalegasconsultations   

The closing date for the Government’s public consultations is 25 October 2018.





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