The South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) has condemned a Government decision to allow fracking under national park land and is waiting to hear what restrictions will apply to surface drilling in protected areas.

SDNPA chief executive Trevor Beattie, said: “We are disappointed the vote in Parliament did not support the Government’s clear commitment to ban fracking under national parks, by making it possible to apply for permission to frack under our precious landscape. Landscape is not skin deep.

“We await the results of a separate government consultation on surface development restrictions in national parks, which will determine restrictions on surface drilling, as the regulations approved only cover what happens below ground.”

Following the vote just before Christmas to approve regulations allowing drilling 1,200 metres under national parks with well pads situated one kilometre or more outside, more than 100 new UK exploratory drilling licences, including blocks in Chichester and areas around Midhurst were approved.

Fernhurst protestors applauded the SDNPA’s unanimous decision last year to reject Celtique Energie’s application to test drill for shale gas and oil just outside the village.

Celtique was poised to go to appeal but withdrew its application in March, following the government’s January pledge of an “outright ban” on fracking.

Following the Government’s latest move, which was branded a U-turn by green campaigners, a company spokesman said Celtique did not wish to comment on the new regulations and had no plans to submit a fresh application in Fernhurst.

Frack Free Fernhurst campaigner Marcus Adams was concerned that the latest round of licences included two areas inside South Downs National Park – south of Midhurst, near Cocking, and between Singleton and East Lavant.

He said: “These cannot be reached by drilling laterally from outside the park – it’s impossible,” he said.

“The only way would be to allow a rig inside the boundary, and this to me is a strong indication that this could be allowed in the future.

“Our real concern is the Government has reneged on its previous promise not to allow drilling in the national park.

“While there will not be infrastructure in the park, it does open up the real prospect of having reneged once, they will do it again if they find it’s economically beneficial.”