Fracking issue ignites election
Voters in the Ochil and South Perthshire constituency will head to the polls tomorrow (Thursday) to choose their next Member of Parliament.
Incumbent MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh of the SNP is up against Conservative candidate Luke Graham, Joanne Ross of the Labour Party and Lib Dem Iliyan Stefanov in a bid to win the seat.
In the lead up to the snap election the candidates have been busy chapping doors and talking to voters about the issues that matter most.
And Ms Ross told the Observer that one matter she feels is of utmost importance to the area is hydraulic fracturing – the process of injecting liquid at high-pressure into underground rocks to extract oil and gas.
The Labour candidate says up to 250 jobs could be at risk within the constituency – at the Highland Spring factory at nearby Blackford – should this be allowed to take place due to fears over water contamination.
A spokesperson from the company insists that “the exploration and extraction of unconventional gas and oil is a very important topic” for them.
Ms Ross is calling on the SNP to make their position clear. She said: “I am completely against fracking. Scottish Labour want to give local communities the final say. They propose to have a local referendum that would give a veto to people affected by fracking. The Scottish Government has consistently failed to support this.
“At the last election the SNP campaigned on an anti-fracking stance then voted against greater regulations in Westminster to control fracking.”
She added: “They cannot look two ways at once. We have a right to know before we go to the polls where they stand on this. Either Tasmina [Ahmed-Sheikh] can’t really can’t remember how she voted on this issue or she really doesn’t care.”
SNP candidate Ms Ahmed-Sheikh, however, insists she is the only option on the ballot paper who can ensure a “safe and sensible” approach to the issue.
She said: “Unlike the Tories in England and Wales, the SNP Government in Scotland have ensured that no fracking can take place here by putting in place a moratorium. “I support the view that unless it can be proven beyond any doubt that there is no risk to health, communities or the environment, there will be no fracking or UCG extraction anywhere in Scotland.
“I’m the only candidate who can beat the Tories here on Thursday and make sure that we continue to have a safe and sensible approach to this serious local issue.”
Mr Graham of the Scottish Conservatives says that the local community should have a say in any fracking operations.
He told the Observer: “Although there are many economic opportunities provided by fracking, we must ensure full environmental and scientific analysis takes place before action is taken.
“Furthermore final approval of any scheme must rest with the local community.”
Lib Dem candidate Mr Stefanov said the potential risks associated with fracking outweigh the perceived benefits.
He said: “I am not in support of hydraulic fracking in Scotland, because this still is a controversial method as it is not absolutely certain that it does not contaminate ground and surface water and, as we aim to cut on use of fossil fuels, we do not need to expand the production of these through new methods.
“I regard the fresh water reserves of Scotland as one the most valuable, if not the most valuable, natural resources the country has.
“We would be taking unnecessary risks if hydraulic fracking was to be allowed. Let’s re-consider again when there is more certainty about its side effects. The risk, for now, by far outweighs the potential gain from this controversial activity.”
In 2014 petro-chemical giant Ineos bought into a licence for shale gas exploration covering a 329 square kilometre area. This takes in areas to the west of Stirling, parts of Clackmannanshire and Denny.