Fracking backlash could aid Greens
Green Party hoping to capitalise on backlash
ELECTIONS: The Green Party is hoping that anger over fracking will help deliver them their first North Yorkshire county councillor this week.
The party is fielding more than 40 candidates across the county.
People are up for it and people want to stand. Andrew Cooper, Green Party regional organiser for Yorkshire.
THE GREENS are hoping anger over fracking will help deliver the party its first ever North Yorkshire county councillor this week.
The party is fielding more than 40 candidates across the county and has particularly high hopes that David Malone could win in the Falsgrave and Stepney division on the edge of Scarborough.
North Yorkshire has become the national battleground over fracking after the county council’s decision last year to give permission for the controversial mining method to be used at Kirby Misperton in Ryedale.
Other companies have also expressed an interest in exploring the rock formations under North Yorkshire for gas.
Andrew Cooper, the Greens’ regional organiser for Yorkshire and a Green councillor on Kirklees Council, said: “The party’s in good shape, people are up for it and people want to stand.
“Obviously there’s the fracking issue in North Yorkshire and the fact that the Conservative council backed the frackers and not the communities, that has been a big thing for us and a lot of our candidates have been part of those anti-fracking movements.”
Coun Cooper suggested the fracking issue has drawn new groups of people into active politics.
He said: “A lot of the people, whether they are Green Party members or not, who have been involved in the anti-fracking protests have been people you wouldn’t expect a lot of the time, probably never been involved in protests or political campaigning ever and now they are rebelling, if you like, against the party they have traditionally supported.”
This week could also see the Greens secure their first Craven Council seat as a by-election for the Aire Valley with Lothersdale ward pitches their Andy Brown against Conservative Gemma Harling.
Coun Cooper said: “[Fracking] has certainly been the key that has opened the door. But there is a lot of resentment about the cuts and things that have happened.
“We are getting positive vibes from all over the place. We are certainly getting a better hearing than we have had before.”
Coun Carl Les, who has led the Conservative group and the county council for the last two years, suggested fracking concerns were focused on particular areas rather than across the county.
He said: “Planning is a legal process, government policy is that fracking can be allowed, the role of the county council in developing its minerals and waste plan is to make sure that we put as many safeguards into place as possible.
“That plan is now out to consultation and I would urge people to get in touch and make their views known.”
In common with councils across Yorkshire, the county authority has seen a dramatic squeeze on its funding from the Government.
The pressure on finances has seen the council question the Conservative Government’s approach, most recently over social care funding.
Coun Les said: “By the end of 2020 we will have taken 35 per cent out of our spending power and we have made considerable savings. I think we have been very successful at making savings, and by and large we have managed to protect the frontline services we have to deliver on behalf of our residents.
“We now are into the final phase and we need to find another £40m and I’m confident that the savings plan we put to full council a few months ago and will inform the new council will be able to achieve that.”
Questions have been raised over whether North Yorkshire should continue to have both county and district councils.
Coun Les said it was important “no stone is left unturned” in finding savings but said it was vital reorganisation was not “imposed” on residents.
THE NORMALLY tranquil environs of North Yorkshire have become a national battleground over fracking in the past year but this week’s local elections will provide something of a litmus test on the true strength of local feeling in regard to the issue.
North Yorkshire County Council gave permission last year for the controversial shale gas extraction process to be used at Kirby Misperton in Ryedale, leading to a High Court battle and even the establishment of a protest camp on the outskirts of the village, that remains in operation.
The issue has caused such division locally that one pub has reportedly banned the topic from being discussed among customers because of the arguments it causes.
While the matter appears unlikely to result in a substantial political earthquake at a council that has been run by the Conservatives since 2001, fracking opponents believe the rumblings of discontent it has caused will have some impact at the ballot box on Thursday.
The Green Party hopes anger over fracking and its involvement with protests against the proposals will help to deliver its first-ever North Yorkshire county councillor, with local activists having particularly high hopes in the Falsgrave and Stepney division on the edge of Scarborough.
However, North Yorkshire Conservatives point out, with some justification, the decision to allow fracking came through the legal planning process and was based on Government policy, which sees the mining method as a key part of the country’s future energy production strategy.
With tensions continuing to rise in Kirby Misperton and interest from a number of firms in exploring rock formations under different areas of North Yorkshire for gas, the local and national policy headache caused by fracking will not be disappearing whatever happens in this week’s council elections.