The UK Government has approved plans for horizontal fracking to take place in Lancashire.

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid gave the go-ahead for fracking at Cuadrilla's Preston New Road site at Little Plumpton today, 06 October. However, he deferred a decision on a second site at Roseacre Wood pending issues over road safety being addressed.

The county council had rejected the plans for fracking at Preston New Road citing issues with visual impact and noise, but Cuadrilla appealed.

The project involves drilling four wells at the site and would be the first horizontal shale wells to be fracked in the UK, which means the process will take place underneath homes.

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Environmentalists and community campaign groups have reacted angrily to the decision, stating that the democratic process has been overruled.

A spokesperson for Residents Action on Flyde Fracking, said: "There were over 18,000 objections and only 200 in support. More and more communities are speaking out up and down the country, and there are now more than 500 community groups opposed to fracking, with more being set up every week. Together we need to stop this industry getting a foothold if we are to ensure the long-term future of our planet."

County Councillor Marcus Johnstone said: "A local council, made up of councillors democratically elected by local people, and charged with serving their interests, is exactly the right body to make decisions on local matters.

"It is clear that the government supports the development of a shale gas industry, but I would ask them to do more to address the concerns of local communities and the councillors who represent them by supporting the best environmental controls."

(LM)