BOLTON’S politicians will have paid close attention as communities secretary granted drilling firm Cuadrilla permission to extract shale gas from a site in Lancashire yesterday.

Sajid Javid overruled Lancashire County Council who objected to the plans last year and granted permission for the company to begin the controversial process of fracking in Little Plumpton, while delaying a decision at a second site in Roseacre Wood.

The decision is a landmark one as it is the first time in the country that shale rock will be fracked horizontally — a process expected to yield more gas.

It could have major ramifications for other areas, including Bolton. Last year, the government granted a licence to drilling firm Osprey, allowing it to carry out exploratory work in an area covering Horwich, Rivington, Blackrod and Belmont.

The majority of the rest of the borough has been earmarked for future test drills. Bolton’s ruling Labour group has stated that it will oppose any fracking in the town ‘as a starting point.’

Tory MP for Bolton West Chris Green said he ‘cannot foresee any situation’ where he would support a fracking application in the constituency.