MP's warning ahead of fracking site hearing

The MP has consistently opposed fracking on the Fylde and has backed the peaceful protests by local campaigners at Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road drill site.

He and Lancaster and Fleetwood MP Cat Smith also spoke in the Commons committee debate where Labour MPs opposed the Government’s proposals against fracking in national parks.

Following a revised application by Cuadrilla at Roseacre Wood with new transport plans ahead of next month’s re-opened planning inquiry, the county council last week passed a motion stating “This council believes that local authorities should retain the powers to approve or reject planning applications.”

They have now written to a Select Committee looking into planning guidance on fracking.

Gordon said: “I completely support the continued opposition from Lancashire County Council and many others locally to the Government riding roughshod over local democracy at Preston New Road.

“If they do it once again with the revised application at Roseacre, local people will not forgive them. The Tory Government should instead follow Labour’s commitment to ban shale gas and back the clean renewable energies.

“Fracking is not just an environmental danger to our countryside and public health - but evidence is also piling up about how little the economic benefits will be.”

The government has repeatedly backed the onshore oil and gas industry which says fracking will create a home-grown supply of gas and thousands of jobs.