1.0Climate Change Dispatchhttps://climatechangedispatch.comThomas Richardhttps://climatechangedispatch.com/author/ccdeditor/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="ieMTtjgZSU"><a href="https://climatechangedispatch.com/at-last-uk-government-put-shale-gas-on-fast-track/">At Last: UK Government Put Shale Gas On Fast Track</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://climatechangedispatch.com/at-last-uk-government-put-shale-gas-on-fast-track/embed/#?secret=ieMTtjgZSU" width="600" height="338" title="“At Last: UK Government Put Shale Gas On Fast Track” — Climate Change Dispatch" data-secret="ieMTtjgZSU" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); /* ]]> */ </script> Fracking applications will be fast-tracked through the planning system under new rules intended to kick-start the shale gas revolution. The guidance, to be issued this week, will strengthen the power of ministers to step in and wrest decisions from local authorities if planners are perceived to be obstructive. The rules will make it easier for the communities secretary to hear appeals such as Cuadrilla's. Interventions are rare but may become more common as the government presses the case for shale gas. Ministers are also preparing to award gas and exploration licences within weeks. Rudd has said she will grant licences in the 14th onshore round — which attracted 95 bidders in 295 areas — in two stages to speed things up. --James Lyons, The Sunday Times, 9 August 2015https://climatechangedispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/images_pics8_fracking_operations.jpg