The leader of Southampton City Council has slammed suggestions that the government could take decisions about fracking away from the scrutiny of councils, calling the idea “appalling”.

It's thought fracking could be brought under fast-track planning regulations called the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Planning (NSIP) regime, designed for commercial scale projects, and limiting opportunities for the public to have their say..

“As an administration, we deplore the suggestion that fracking applications should be taken away from local democracy and accountability,” said leader of Southampton City Council, Cllr Simon Letts (Lab).

Scrutiny

“The government’s suggestion to take fracking away from the scrutiny of councils – where democratic decisions are made and residents have the ultimate say – is, in my view, appalling.

“Why should wind turbines, solar panels and tidal technology - which is green and non-polluting - be subject to public scrutiny, yet disruptive and destructive fracking wells are not?”

Pic cropped from an original of protesting Green MEPs by greensefa under CC2

Previously: 'Are we fit to frack’ asks city MP