UPDATE: Greenpeace slam government move to frack under national parks

Derbyshire Greenpeace campaigners have struck out after news that controversial gas drilling practices have been allowed under the Peak District.
Greenpeace capaigners have called the government a 'pantomime villain' after pushing the Peaks closer to fracking licences.Greenpeace capaigners have called the government a 'pantomime villain' after pushing the Peaks closer to fracking licences.
Greenpeace capaigners have called the government a 'pantomime villain' after pushing the Peaks closer to fracking licences.

The group said that the prospect of the Peak District being 'ringed by fracking rigs' came closer yesterday as the government approved regulations to allow fracking under national parks and sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs).

The vote came three weeks after the government announced a minister, rather than an independent planning inspector, would rule on the appeal against Lancashire County Council's decision to reject an application to extract shale gas by Cuadrilla Resources.

Glossop based campaigner Martin Porter said: "It's the pantomime season, and the government is doing a very good jobs of being the pantomime villain. Not only will this decision upset people like me who think fracking shouldn't go ahead under any circumstances, it will annoy people who may support fracking but don't think National Parks are the place to do it, and also people who may not have an opinion either way, but who think decisions like this should be made locally and not imposed by Westminister

"Five days ago the government signed the Paris agreement on keeping climate change below 2 degrees by 2100. Climate chaos beckons unless we phase out fossil fuels. Instead the government is adding a new dirty fuel to the mix whilst killing of the renewables industry."