Politicians' alarm over fracking bombshell

LABOUR and Conservative politicians in Warrington have reacted swiftly to the news that a fracking survey is to be carried out in the borough.
Culcheth councillors Paul Campbell, Matt Smith and Chris Vobe have all expressed concern at the possibility of “three dimensional seismic survey” work being carried out in the Glazebury area.
Warrington-Worldwide yesterday reported that Warrington Borough Council had been formally notified by TESLA Exploration International Ltd of the company’s intention to carry out survey work in the Glazebury area on behalf of IGAS Energy PLC.
The work was said to be part of IGas’s ongoing appraisal of the potential to extract hydrocarbon from the ground by means of hydraulic fracturing – or “fracking.”
Planning consent is not required for the work and the council has no say on the matter.
Tory member of Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council Paul Campbell said: “I am very worried, as Glazebury residents will be, about the on-going effect on the local community.
“TESLA Exploration International Ltd has been carrying out this sort of drilling throughout the country, which they describe as a ‘three dimensional survey’.
“I believe if sufficient gas is found by the survey it will then lead to the further exploration of the site known as ‘fracking’. Like local residents who live in this quiet peaceful area, I am not happy with this proposal which I understand does not require planning permission from the local authority.
“Like local residents I am worried how this will impact on a quiet scenic area and the inevitable increase in traffic and other issues that I have no doubt will arise affecting the wider local community.
“I will be writing to the company and Warrington Borough Council requesting full clarification of this proposed work.”
In a joint statement, Labour councillors Matt Smith and Chris Vobe, said: “We oppose these plans d are very concerned at the impact on the community of Glazebury.
“Our priority continues to be to protect the interests of our villages from any schemes which may be detrimental, either now or in the future.”
Warrington North MP Helen Jones is opposed to fracking. She said she opposed the proposal because of its impact on the village and the possible impact on the Green Belt.
She claimed the technology was not proven and the Government should be investing more in energy saving measures and renewable technologies to provide jobs for the future.
IGas claim they are not currently intending to set seismic data from the area and the survey is part of a wider plan to map the geological structure of the North West.
Daniel Hartley, Warrington Borough Council’s development manager, said:
“Under the law, companies are not required to seek planning permission for this activity, but they must notify the relevant mineral planning authority, in this case Warrington Borough Council.
The council does not have any say in the matter.”
Fracking – or hydraulic fracturing – is the process of drilling down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the gas inside. Water, sand and chemicals are injected into the rock at high pressure which allows the gas to flow out to the head of the well.
The process is carried out vertically or, more commonly, by drilling horizontally to the rock layer. The process can create new pathways to release gas or can be used to extend existing channels.
Fracking has brought about a boom in cheap shale gas in the United States.
Exploratory drilling has been carried out in several parts of the UK, including nearby Barton Moss, and has led to protests and demonstrations by local people concerned about damage to the environment and the possibility of earth tremors.
Pictured (right) from the top: Cllrs Campbell, Smith and Vobe