CPRE disappointment at fracking vote

Rural policy campaigner Emma Marrington said: “CPRE is disappointed that the Government has voted to allow fracking under National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, along with other protected areas. This means that fracking infrastructure will be permitted in areas around our finest landscapes, which would not only cause visual intrusion and damage tranquillity but would also industrialise the settings of our National Parks and AONBs.

"It is particularly worrying that there was no debate in Parliament on such an important and emotive issue. Ministers continue to claim that fracking infrastructure will not be permitted within protected areas, but we still haven’t seen clear proof that this will be the case. We call on the Government to formalise the regulations to ensure that there is a clear ban on fracking within protected landscapes.”