Let communities decide on fracking
The government is consulting on proposals to streamline the planning process for fracking – disregarding widespread opposition and posing huge risks to our countryside.
If these proposals go ahead, getting planning permission for non-hydraulic exploratory drilling could be as easy as for building a conservatory or a fence. And decisions will be forced from national government, stepping over local decision makers and communities’ wishes.
CPRE has always believed that the concerns of local people must be at the heart of the planning system, but these proposals completely undermine this principle.
We are calling on the government to drop these proposals.
Communities pushing back
Communities and local campaigners around the country have fought back hard against fracking over recent years – mounting legal challenges, using their knowledge of the planning system to challenge permissions, and lobbying decision makers hard.
Image: Kirby Misperton protection camp
We, and they, are concerned for the risks that fracking poses to our landscapes, the tranquillity of our countryside – and of course environmental and climate concerns. Unless it can be guaranteed that these risks will not materialise, fracking should be scrutinised further - not made easier.
Our campaign
We are working hard to make sure these proposals do not go ahead. We have teamed up with 38 Degrees to get as many people as possible - from across the country and across all walks of life - to show the government the scale of opposition. It has so far gained almost 200,000 signatures.
Local councils will feel the brunt of it if these proposals are put into practice – with decision-making powers taken out of their hands, and made at the national level. During the consultation period over 11,000 people wrote to council leaders across the country to ask them to join in the fight.
Two Westminster Hall debates held last year saw a packed room of cross-party MPs challenge the ministers on the undemocratic nature of the measures. You can watch both debates by following the links below:
Fracking has been stopped at every turn by public pressure. This time is no different and together we can stop the government fast tracking fracking.
More information
For more details about the proposals, CPRE’s view, and campaign progress, go here.
You can find out more about CPRE’s position on fracking here.
You can read our responses to the government consultations here and here.
