THE Tories attempted yesterday to sneak through legislation to allow fracking in some of Britain’s national parks, prompting campaigners to cry foul.

 

Energy Secretary Amber Rudd brought forward an amendment to the Petroleum Act 1998 late in the day’s business and without space in the parliamentary schedule for it to be debated.

 

The government used a statutory instrument, which avoids a Commons debate on the details of its proposals.

 

Hydraulic fracturing is currently being performed on 11 sites across Britain to extract oil and gas.

 

Campaigning group Frack Off member Hannah Walters told the Star that activists were ready for a fight after 60 per cent of Britain’s surface was made available for the polluting practice.

 

Included in the Tories’ proposed areas are national parks, the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads and areas of outstanding natural beauty.

 

Ms Walters said: “There are now over 200 active community groups in the UK, with new groups forming every month.

 

“People can see the devastation caused by the industry in the US, where 100,000 of these fracking wells have been drilled in the last decade, and now find that their community is potentially facing the same threat.

 

“Very few politicians understand that fracking requires eight wells or more to be drilled in every square mile of each licence area.

 

“But there is nothing fracking companies or politicians fear more than genuine local opposition.

 

“The areas of the UK that are most visibly organised, like Lancashire, Yorkshire and Cheshire, look absolutely toxic.

 

“Every attempt at gaining a foothold is delayed, costs soar and bad publicity ensues, all of which scares investors.”

 

The group’s outrage was echoed by Labour’s shadow energy secretary Lisa Nandy, who said: “Rather than addressing public concerns over fracking, ministers are using a parliamentary back door to put through these weak regulations without a proper debate.

 

“Fracking should not go ahead in Britain until stronger safeguards are in place to protect drinking-water sources and sensitive parts of our countryside like national parks.”

 

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said that the way the changes were being pushed through was “outrageous.”

 

Highlighting the threat that fracking poses to beautiful scenery and wildlife, he added: “It is tantamount to vandalism to not recognise that some areas simply must be protected from fracking so they can be enjoyed by future generations.”