UK government to step in if local councils delayed fracking-decisions

In a bid to fast-track fracking, UK ministers had been granted the right to take decisions on controversial shale gas applications away from local authorities.

Under the new measures, local authorities would forfeit the right to determine an application if they were found to be delaying making a decision.

The government had made clear it was going "all out for shale" as it sought to counter declining North Sea oil and gas output.

The UK is said to have substantial amounts of shale gas trapped in underground rocks.

However, efforts to exploit the reserves had run into opposition from local residents and environment campaigners.

Recent months had seen councils turn down applications in potential shale areas including Lancashire and Sussex.

According to critics the latest announcement was a government attempt to run "rough shod over democracy".

It would see the final say on permits handed to the communities secretary Greg Clark, who would "call in" applications when councils took longer than the statutory 16 weeks to make a decision - unless they were granted an extension.

Clark would also be able to take charge of determining appeals against planning rejections on a case-by-case basis.

Environmentalists have slammed the measure as a mockery of the government's promise to give power to local people.

The government said it would take local views into consideration but shale gas development was a national priority that needed to be held up.

According to commentators, the announcement did not come as a major change rather it sent a  warning of sorts to local authorities.

Ministers already enjoyed powers to take over the decision on any controversial planning issue at any stage of the application.

According to ministers, they would now routinely consider applying it to every bid to drill for shale gas.

They would also ask the Planning Inspectorate to give priority to any appeals against planning refusal for shale gas that came its way.

Energy secretary Amber Rudd said, "We need more secure, home grown energy supplies - and shale gas must play a part in that.

"We can't have a planning system that sees applications dragged out for months, or even years. We need a system that delivers timely planning decisions and works effectively for local people and developers."

The government's announcement is being viewed as a response to Lancashire County Council's recent rejection of oil and gas explorer Cuadrilla Resources' shale gas applications after a year of deliberations.

The UK government is mulling a law to make exploring for shale oil and gas easier (See: UK to legislate law to ease shale oil exploration).