THE cost of policing and monitoring anti-fracking protests in Lancashire averages around £32,000 per year, new figures show.

Details released by Lancashire Police after a Freedom of Information request reveal the total cost of policing fracking demonstrations in the past three years is £63,840.

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The average cost per annum over a two-year period from April 2104 to March 2016 was £31,920.

Earlier this month the secretary of state for communities and local government allowed Cuadrilla’s appeal against Lancashire County Council’s decision to refuse permission for fracking at the Preston New Road, Little Plumpton site.

Prior to the council turning down the plans, tens of thousands of people responded to the consultation processes, and the application was described by county hall as ‘one of the biggest planning applications ever put before any council’ Cuadrilla plans to have four horizontal shale gas wells at the site.

On Thursday, a motion will be put before Pendle Council regarding the decision to allow fracking in Lancashire.

Reedley ward representative, Cllr Yasser Iqbal, has tabled a motion to the full council.

Cllr Iqbal said: “I am very concerned that the Government is supporting fracking in Lancashire and they granted a licence last year for Burnley and Pendle.

“I know that people living in the top part of Brierfield and Reedley are very worried the effect of possible fracking will have on the area.

I’m calling on all our representatives to stand up for the people of Reedley and join my campaign to stop any fracking in Reedley and Brierfield.”

The motion states:”This council notes with disappointment the decision by the Communities Secretary to ignore local democracy and grant a fracking licence in Lancashire.

“The council also notes the decision of the Conservative government to allow companies to apply for fracking in parts of Pendle namely Brierfield.

“We wish the council to write to the Prime Minister and the communities secretary to not proceed any further with plans to grant licences which allow fracking in Pendle.”