Fear that fracking threat could return to Shropshire

Anti-fracking campaigner Chris Hesketh has described the appointment by Theresa May as a "bad idea".

He has also warned people in the county not to be complacent against the threat, even though there are not any fracking planning applications going through at the moment in Shropshire.

It comes about two years after highly controversial plans were finally scrapped to test drill for coal bed methane in Dudleston Heath, near Ellesmere, following campaigns and protests against the proposals, which Mr Hesketh was involved in.

In 2015 Mr Gove voted against requiring an environmental permit for hydraulic fracking activities.

He also voted against a review of the impact of fracking on climate change and the environment.

He did however support greater restrictions on fracking in national parks, the Broads, areas of outstanding natural beauty, World Heritage sites, and near to drinking water sources.

Mr Hesketh said: "The election news is becoming increasingly surreal, but I do agree that putting in a minister that has consistently voted against all environmental protections in charge of protecting the environment, is a very bad idea.

"Combine Mr Gove's dreadful pedigree with the manifesto promise to strip down the planning system so that communities like Dudleston would have no protection from the planning system and we have a significant cause for concern.

"During our campaign we engaged with both planning and the Environment Agency. The EA were very clear that factors like noise were not covered by their remit because they are handled by planning. This leaves open the question of how these considerations would be consulted on and enforced.

"The best hope for communities threatened by the creation of industrialised unconventional gas fields is that either the Conservative Government fails to get established, or that they realise that in order to get elected they need to listen to the people a bit.

"Although Shropshire doesn't currently have any fracking planning applications going through, it would be a big mistake to get complacent, plus we should all be supportive of communities that are very actively battling to prevent their area from becoming a gas field. Industry influence is still counting for more than public opinion."

North Shropshire could be one of nearly 200 constituencies to face the threat of “fast-track drilling” under plans put forward in the Conservative party manifesto.

The manifesto plans mean that companies could drill and sample a well – often the first step towards full-scale fracking – under “permitted development”, without any planning permission.

The party’s plans could also mean that full fracking applications would be considered by the Planning Inspectorate in Bristol alone, rather than the local authority.

However, the manifesto does say there will need to be public support for the schemes, saying local people will benefit financially.