Fracking concerns in Accrington as over 130 attend public meeting
Over a hundred and thirty people attended a public meeting on fracking held in Accrington last week (Wednesday 4 May). The meeting heard from Dr Stephen Garsed from the Blackburn Diocese Environment Group, about the environmental and social impacts of fracking, and speakers from Frack Free Lancashire, an alliance of forty community groups from across the county opposing fracking.
The event aimed to raise awareness about new licences that have been awarded to gas and oil companies for onshore drilling in East Lancashire – including blocks covering Accrington, Blackburn, Darwen, Burnley and Rossendale (1).
Dave Daly from Hyndburn Friends of the Earth said:
“With over a hundred people turning up to a public meeting on fracking it shows there is a high level of interest and concern with this industry locally. Several new licences have opened the door to potential fracking in Accrington and across East Lancs, and it is vital that local people get clued up on the facts.
“It is clear the Government is losing the argument on fracking, with public support at an all-time low. Communities across the new licences areas are determined to stop fracking in East Lancs and everywhere.”
Recent government research reveals that public support for fracking has fallen to a record low (2).
There are currently over 750 groups opposed to fracking throughout the UK (3).
For more information on the licences for gas and oil in East Lancashire please contact: kelffgroup@gmail.com
Notes:
- The licences are: Celtique SD72 covering Accrington and Oswaldtwistle, Haslingden, Helmshore, Rossendale; Osprey SD73 covering Rishton, Padiham, Great Harwood, Clayton-le-Moors; SD62 Aurora covering Blackburn, Darwen.
- Only 19% of people support shale gas energy, with a significantly higher 31% of people opposing it outright, the highest level of opposition yet since the Government starting surveying public opinions on energy in 2012.
Support for renewable energy in contrast is “consistently high” at 81% of people supporting the use of renewables, with opposition “very low”.
Reference: DECC public attitudes tracker Wave 17, 28 April 2016 Aprilhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/519488/PAT_Wave_17_Summary_of_key_findings.pdf
