THE prospect of fracking taking place in Bolton has moved a step closer — after the government gave the go-ahead for tests in parts of the borough.

The licence will be offered to drilling firm Osprey, allowing it to carry out exploratory work in an area of land covering Horwich, Blackrod, Rivington and Belmont.

The government has also earmarked the whole of rest of the borough as having potential for shale gas extraction — with consultation and environmental assessments now set to take place.

Campaigners in Bolton are now fearful that ministers could be able to bypass local councils in allowing fracking to take place.

The latest announcement comes as part of the Oil and Gas Authority’s (OGA) 14th licensing round for oil and gas exploration — with the area of land in the west of Bolton one of 27 offered across the UK.

Darren Tickle from the Bolton Against Fracking campaign group said: “Industry studies have shown that fracking is not a safe method of extraction.

“Whether a well fails in five years or 50 years, it will fail — full scale investment in renewables must start now.

“We have been working with groups across the north of England and we will continue to fight this.”

The leader of Bolton Green party, Alan Johnson, said he has been “horrified” by the recent developments.

He added: “They have chosen the most beautiful part of Bolton to drill in, using a process that we believe has real potential dangers for the water supply and in terms of contaminating soil.

“The government are now saying this is what will happen, regardless of what local councils and local people say — so much for democracy.

“I am so worried for the future of our young people.”

Campaigners are against the process because they believe it carries potential risks — including the contamination of water supplies and soil and the creation of earth tremors.

But the government believes shale gas extraction will create thousands of jobs and deliver more secure energy supplies.

The OGA’s announcement means that the Osprey drilling firm will be formally offered the 10km by 10km block of land in Bolton later in the year.

Three other blocks of land — encompassing all of the rest of the Bolton borough — form part of a second group of 132 blocks which have been subjected to assessment, the findings of which are now out for consultation.

Subject to the outcome of that consultation, the OGA will announce offers for the second group of licence blocks later in the year.

Earlier this month, the government announced that it would change the rules on fracking applications — allowing ministers to intervene if local councils fail to act quickly enough.

The move followed frustrations at the slow rate of progress on exploratory drilling across the country, which has been held up by the planning process.

Cuadrilla’s plans to frack in Lancashire were eventually rejected by the local authority, more than a year after they were first submitted.

Bolton Council’s cabinet member for the environment, Cllr Nick Peel, is unhappy at the government’s pledge to step-in on fracking applications.

He said: “David Cameron came to power in 2010 waving the flag of localism but ever since then he has done the opposite.

“It is completely wrong — it should be the case that local authorities are making decisions on things like fracking.”

Speaking about the process itself, he added: “I don’t think we should be rushing into this when there are so many unanswered questions about safety and the potential effect on the environment.”

Cllr Peel also challenged new Conservative MP Chris Green to “stand up for his constituents” in Bolton West.

Mr Green said he believes shale gas is important for the country’s future but insisted his priority was the concerns of his constituents.

He added: “I am not ideologically in favour or opposed to fracking — we have to be pragmatic as to where it can be properly exploited.

“There is a strong future for shale gas in the UK but it has to be done in the right locations and we have to make sure that the health and safety of residents is not affected.

“If there are any concerns about the processes affecting the water supply, then that would be a grave concern for me.

“I am here to support the people of Bolton West and while I don’t want conflict with the party, they are my priority.”