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UK government to planners: ignore local preferences, proceed to frack
National energy policy more important than local preferences for renewables, says ministry
Planning authorities have been banned from considering whether renewable energy plants would be a better fit for their communities, if they receive an application for a fracking mine.
Documents released by the government stress that local authorities should instead recognise that "mineral extraction is essential to local and national economies". This is despite a Department for Communities and Local Government document highlighting 16 environmental risks linked to the process, including seismic shocks and the appearance of radioactive surface water...
The 10th day of protests were staged on Saturday at the West Sussex village of Balcombe where energy company Cuadrilla is exploring the possibility of fracking. About 400 people gathered to sing and wave placards at the gates of the site on a leafy B-road a kilometre outside the village.
However, the government's planning document stresses that fracking could be a vital source of energy. "Mineral planning authorities should not consider demand for, or consider alternatives to, oil and gas resources when determining planning applications," the document says. "Government energy policy makes it clear that energy supplies should come from a variety of sources.
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/aug/03/ignore-fracking-protests-government-tells-planners
Documents released by the government stress that local authorities should instead recognise that "mineral extraction is essential to local and national economies". This is despite a Department for Communities and Local Government document highlighting 16 environmental risks linked to the process, including seismic shocks and the appearance of radioactive surface water...
The 10th day of protests were staged on Saturday at the West Sussex village of Balcombe where energy company Cuadrilla is exploring the possibility of fracking. About 400 people gathered to sing and wave placards at the gates of the site on a leafy B-road a kilometre outside the village.
However, the government's planning document stresses that fracking could be a vital source of energy. "Mineral planning authorities should not consider demand for, or consider alternatives to, oil and gas resources when determining planning applications," the document says. "Government energy policy makes it clear that energy supplies should come from a variety of sources.
