'Fracking is finished – or it should be'

In response to Lancashire County Council declining the opportunity to back an outright and permanent ban on fracking, Frack Free Lancashire spokesperson Nick Danby told The Gazette that it was “disappointing but not in the least surprising”.

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“We have already heard from the Reform leadership in Lancashire that they do not support fracking here because the geology is not suitable - and now they are saying that any future decision should be ‘evidence-based’.

“Are we to understand that Lancashire Reform have changed their minds or perhaps they have a plan to transform the geology?

the truth,” County Coun Singleton said.

“It's time that the Reform leadership and our own Reform county councillors support our residents in Lancashire with a permanent ban. Fracking should be excluded from all future reviews of our energy requirements, certainly in Lancashire.”

But Reform county councillor Luke Parker (Preston East) said the party simply wanted to keep “an open mind and [give] the public a fair say” on the future of the UK's energy options.

“Technology is moving rapidly and with it come [s] new opportunities to reduce risk, improve safety and strengthen our energy independence,” County Coun Parker claimed, adding that issues such as rising energy bills for Lancashire households also had to be factored into considerations about fracking.

“It would be irresponsible not to look at every available option for securing affordable, reliable energy for the long term,” he said.