Plea to stem fracking rise
WEST Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper has called on the Government not to bow to fracking companies, amid calls to increase the maximum level at which they can operate.
But the Government has said there are no plans to review regulations as residents’ safety and property is protected.
Ms Cooper urged the Government to ensure residents’ and environment interests are protected.
When she asked the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy about the call by Cuadrilla for an increase in the threshold for the maximum magnitude level at which it is allowed to operate, the energy minister assured her there would be no changes.
Energy minister Claire Perry said: “The ‘traffic light system’ is working exactly as intended.
“As I have already set out to this House, there are no plans to review it. The traffic light system ensures that induced seismic events remain at a level that prevents the risk of damage to the environment or property.”
Ms Cooper said: “The Government must stand firm on this having given the go ahead to fracking in Lancashire against the will of residents and local democracy and bowing to big business interest.
“I appreciate the assurance from the energy minister that there will be no change to the current traffic light system and will continue to monitor the situation, and will hold the government to their word.
“If it cannot be proven that fracking can be done safely and without causing seismic events then for those reasons and so many more, this Government needs to steal another of Labour’s manifesto pledges and ban fracking immediately.”
The reassurances that companies would not be allowed to increase the maximum magnitude level at which they can operate comes just over two weeks after three Skelmersdale councillors voiced their concerns over fracking in the area.
John Fillis, Julie Gibson and Terry Aldridge have joined more than 800 councillors who have signed an open letter opposing Government proposals to let companies undertake exploration drilling without local planning applications.
The three councillors voiced their concerns that fracking licences had been granted for land in Skelmersdale and Up Holland, and called for the Government to respect the rights of communities to make decisions on fracking through the local planning system.