PROPOSED government changes to planning rules for fracking could strip local authorities of their powers to decide controversial schemes, a council leader has warned.

Blackburn with Darwen boss Cllr Mohammed Khan has told colleagues of his concern over the wider implications of two consultations on shale gas.

One would treat small projects like installing garden sheds and the second would transfer decisions on major fracking schemes to the government in Whitehall.

Cllr Khan said: "These proposals have the potential to remove or limit the role of the local authority planning process for shale gas extraction and, whilst at this stage there are no active projects of this type in the borough, I’m concerned that these proposals from the Government could set a precedent for driving future changes to planning decisions and limiting the role of local decision making. "

His report to the borough Council Forum adds: "The council will be responding to the consultation and outlining our concerns."