Delay over fracking policy is “irresponsible” – council told

WARRINGTON needs to form a view on applications for fracking in the borough, according to the Liberal Democrat group on the borough council.
The first meeting of a Town Hall task group intended to help the council form a view on shale gas exploration – announced three months ago – has still not taken place and will not do so for another six weeks.
Liberal Democrat spokesman Cllr Brian Axcell  (pictured) said: “This topic should be a matter of urgency.
“The government has announced that all coal-fired power stations are to be shut down over the next 10 years and replaced by gas-fired stations without any indication of where the extra gas will come from.
“The government has also taken the decisions over fracking applications in Lancashire away from the Planning Inspectorate and it will make the decisions itself.
“The delay of almost four and a half months in getting the Task Group to start its work has been irresponsible.”