MIKE Amesbury has grilled fracking industry bosses on proposed changes to planning laws, which could 'take decisions out of the hands of local communities'.

Companies such as Ineos already have permission to explore for shale gas across large swathes of Cheshire, and Mike – the MP for Weaver Vale – was recently branded a ‘Nimby’ by Conservative minister Liz Truss when he raised the issue during PMQs.

Reforms to planning currently being considered could see new fracking applications decided at national level rather than by elected councillors.

As a member of the Communities and Local Government Select Committee, Mike – a longstanding opponent of fracking – recently quizzed industry bosses in the Commons.

Addressing Lynn Calder, commercial director at INEOS Shale, he said: “As somebody opposed to fracking how would you convince me that planning decisions should have more emphasis on national policy rather than be informed by local planning authorities.”

She replied that from the industry’s perspective planning delays were ‘unacceptable’, adding: “We’ve never sought to have these decisions taken out of the hands of local communities, we believe they should be taken by local communities.”

Speaking outside the chamber, Mike said: “Fracking is a huge issue in my constituency and beyond.

“The danger here is that a pro-fracking administration in Westminster sets the tone for these projects being imposed on communities which simply don’t want them, completely overriding the decisions of elected representatives.

“Fracking has been banned in many countries now including Germany, France, the Republic of Ireland and Scotland.

“It is destructive to the environment and can potentially contaminate the water supply.”

Other industry bosses present included Ken Cronin, chief executive of UK Onshore Oil and Gas, and Matt Lambert, director of government and public affairs at Cuadrilla.