Roundup: Britain green lights first horizontal fracking site

British Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Sajid Javid, gave the go-ahead Thursday for a shale gas extraction plant at Lancashire in northern England.

The minister's decision is regarded as a landmark ruling for the industry, as it represents the first approval in Britain for a process known as horizontal fracking which is thought to yield more gas. However, fracking technology has also raised concerns about added pollution and earthquakes.

Local people in Lancashire waged a campaign against the plans, with the local planning authority Lancashire County Council refusing to give the go-ahead to gas company Cuadrilla.

The company appealed and the long-awaited ruling by Javid means gas extraction can go ahead at the site in the village of Little Plumpton in Lancashire. Javid has deferred a decision to frack at another site in the north at Roseacre Wood.

Campaigners fear that fracking will cause significant damage to the environment, particularly in areas of northern England where shale gas reserves are thought to be high.

A Department for Communities and Local Government spokesman said: "The decisions follow extensive consideration of all the evidence, including an independent planning inspector's report and evidence submitted during a two-week public inquiry."

Campaigner Pat Davies, chairwoman of Preston New Road Action Group, reacted angrily to the government decision. She was quoted by local media as saying that "the government neither listens nor can it be trusted to do the right thing for local communities."

Drilling companies believe trillions of cubic feet of shale gas may be recoverable from beneath parts of Britain and more than 200 onshore exploration licenses have been awarded to energy companies. Enditem