The British government recently announced changes in the way applications for hydraulic fracturing (fracking), are processed, Reuters reported.

The new regulations will allow local Communities’ Ministers to directly approve applications, bypassing local politicians who have presented significant opposition in the past.

A joint press release by the Energy and Communities Department’s read, “Today’s measures will prevent the long delays that mean uncertainty both for business and for local residents.”

Local residents are outraged over the new deal, arguing that the operations are unsafe and will be a blight on the landscape.

According to the Lancashire Evening Post, citizens are even angrier after a visit by Energy minister Andrea Leadsom to observe what a potential fracking site would look like yielded the comment that the public should give fracking, “a fair crack of the whip.”

The same community had last month voted down a proposal by gas-developer Cuadrilla Resources to frack at several locations in the area. Following the announcement of the changed rules, Cuadrilla announced it would apply again.