Lancashire council's fracking refusal was 'democracy in action'

As public inquiry opens, council defends decision to reject energy firm's planning application to drill for shale gas

The decision to refuse planning permission for fracking in Lancashire was "local democracy in action", a barrister for Lancashire county council has said at the first day of a public inquiry into the decision.

Lancashire council in June refused applications by the energy firm Cuadrilla for permission to drill for shale gas at two sites in the county. The public inquiry, which is scheduled to last five weeks, was launched after Cuadrilla appealed against the decision.